clear out

verb

cleared out; clearing out; clears out
Synonyms of clear outnext

transitive verb

: to drive out or away usually forcibly

Examples of clear out in a Sentence

police used tear gas to clear out the demonstrators everyone cleared out as soon as the fire alarm began sounding
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More storms and rain will be possible early Tuesday but should clear out by late morning for Primary Day with afternoon temperatures back in the 80s. Rachael Jay, CBS News, 20 June 2026 Investigators are probing the possibility that the operator may have been financially motivated, clearing out space to accept more dogs from shelters across the state — and the $400 to $1,450 payment that came with each dog. Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 18 June 2026 The TVs inside the West Village restaurant were showing the game, while the space had been cleared out to allow for mingling of guests like Myha’la, Adam DiMarco, Richie Shazam, Delaney Rowe, Olivia Ponton, Indira Scott, Paige Powell, Elsie Hewitt, Ella Emhoff, Tony Ozkan and Yesly Dimate. Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 18 June 2026 Any remaining threats will clear out of the Midwest Thursday and shift into the East. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for clear out

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of clear out was in 1613

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clear out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear%20out. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

clear out

verb
1
: to go or run away often suddenly or secretly
a horse broke loose and cleared out
cleared out without paying me back
2
: to drive out or away usually with force
police cleared out the demonstrators
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster