clear out

verb

cleared out; clearing out; clears out

intransitive verb

: depart

transitive verb

: to drive out or away usually forcibly

Synonyms

• disband
• dispel
• disperse
• dissipate
• scatter
• squander

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

But when the streets ominously clear out and their sniper is spotted, they're forced to engage in a fierce battle with al-Qaeda insurgents. —EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025

Meanwhile, residents are clearing out local drugstores’ supplies of vitamin A and cod-liver oil, and showing up to a makeshift clinic that is giving out cod-liver oil. —Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025

Sip on these to clear out the winter doldrums and get ready for a long, hot summer. —Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025

Researchers discovered that this waste-clearance system works primarily during sleep, with brain cells creating pathways for cerebrospinal fluid to flow through and clear out toxins that accumulate during wakefulness. —Drew Ramsey, Contributor, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for clear out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

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