clear out

verb

cleared out; clearing out; clears out

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.
The birds stuck around for the secretive voting process, but appeared to clear out at 3 p.m. ET, when the cardinals expelled black smoke from the chimney to indicate that a decision on the next pope is yet to be made, per USA Today. Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 8 May 2025 Starbucks staffers cleared out of the building, which was significantly damaged. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025 The Nines was cleared out and taken over by Christian Louboutin to celebrate their foray into eyewear. Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 11 Apr. 2025 Growing up, meatloaf was considered a practical weeknight dish, often used to clear out leftover vegetables and bread. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2025 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 16 May. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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