clear 1 of 3

Definition of clearnext
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clear

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verb

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as in to empty
to remove the contents of cleared a drawer so there would be a place to store his clothes

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as in to open
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way the early settlers worked hard to clear the land for crops

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as in to smooth
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions plows promptly cleared the roads of snow

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as in to earn
to receive after charges and deductions have been made cleared enough from that stock transaction to be able to afford a new luxury automobile

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as in to pay
to give what is owed for finally cleared the last debt

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clear

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adverb

as in through

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clear contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clear are limpid, translucent, and transparent. While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

When could limpid be used to replace clear?

Although the words limpid and clear have much in common, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

When can translucent be used instead of clear?

The synonyms translucent and clear are sometimes interchangeable, but translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

When would transparent be a good substitute for clear?

While the synonyms transparent and clear are close in meaning, transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of clear
Adjective
Success, for us is distinctiveness — being recognized by our design language alone and known as a brand with a clear point of view, forming the right partnerships, and on a more human level, coming back with new ideas and the momentum to keep designing. Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 27 May 2026 On a clear day, the 120-square-metre infinity pool appears to dissolve into the Gulf itself, with the islands of Ischia and Capri floating on the horizon. Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 27 May 2026
Verb
Researchers tracked a group of volunteers who first followed a restricted diet for two weeks to clear their systems, according to a press release. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026 Traditional finance keeps the issuer of an instrument separate from the infrastructure that clears and settles it. Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Adverb
At Vermejo Park Ranch, purchased in the mid-1990s from Pennzoil and spanning more than 870 square miles near the New Mexico-Colorado border, Turner’s team has worked to restore mountainsides and valleys degraded by overgrazing, mining and clear-cutting. Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 From there, a weekly check-in and clear-out ensures nothing slips through the cracks. Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for clear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clear
Adjective
  • That was unusually blunt from the typically genial Pritzker, who’s mainly tried to keep a public lid on his obvious irritation with Johnson.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
  • Find the topic gaps nobody is filling Every niche has angles that are obvious in hindsight.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Adjective
  • Strategies include discerning between private one-on-one discussions for personal matters like layoffs, and transparent public updates for company-wide policies such as return-to-office mandates, always providing clear rationale.
    Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • To ensure assessments are fair, accurate and transparent, with responsive, reliable services for all.
    Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Adjective
  • These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2026
  • Although Republicans who dominate the state Legislature are aligned on the broad contours of the new map, the House and Senate have competing visions for how to divvy up certain localities, including which parishes will be kept whole and which will be sliced up.
    David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Adjective
  • Maybe not stuck in an urban jam, dodging potholes or crawling amid draconian speed limits – but out there on the open road, taking sunny corners in a nice car?
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 May 2026
  • Those marching orders left opponents and free speech advocates in disbelief, wondering how park employees were supposed to put a sunny spin on monuments acknowledging slavery, Jim Crow laws and the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
    Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • The jobs apocalypse is not yet here, but governments waiting for conclusive evidence of it will be acting too late.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 24 May 2026
  • However, no conclusive evidence ever surfaced to confirm those claims.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Adjective
  • The sensors require unobstructed fields of view, which can conflict with crew hatches, external stowage, and antenna mounts already present on legacy vehicles.
    Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
  • Where To See Manhattanhenge The best views are from Manhattan’s broad east-west thoroughfares with unobstructed views toward New Jersey across the Hudson River.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Adjective
  • Two of the victims were shot and one, an innocent housewife, was buried alive.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 28 May 2026
  • Slater was injured during an innocent-looking drill during training camp and sat out all season.
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Whatever political direction Democrats plan to take their party in two years at their National Convention to elect a presidential nominee, Denver offers a shining example of what a city looks like when governance goes right for many decades, led by heart and hard work.
    The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 5 May 2026
  • So naturally in a state that treats basketball like a religion and the sport’s biggest stars like royalty, nobody casts a bigger shadow in this community now than the slender 6-foot-6, 196-pound, 19-year-old freshman who changed Final Four weekend with one brilliant shining moment Sunday afternoon.
    Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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