clearing

noun

clear·​ing ˈklir-iŋ 

1

: the act or process of making or becoming clear

2

: a tract of land cleared of wood and brush

3

: the settlement of accounts or exchange of financial instruments especially between banks

Synonyms

• acquittal
• exculpation
• exoneration
• vindication

Examples of clearing in a Sentence

the clearing of the table

the clearing of wood and brush from part of the forest

We found a clearing in the forest.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cadet Crew met twice a week with between 10 and 26 people, working on labor-intensive projects like clearing brush. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 27 Jan. 2025

Cornelius Taylor, a homeless man, was killed during the clearing. —Leah Goodridge, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025

Against this backdrop, large-scale efforts to stop the clearing of Madagascar’s forests have often faltered. —Julie Bourdin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan. 2025

City Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades, asked why the two phases — the EPA work and the debris clearing — couldn’t be done in one fell swoop. —Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clearing

• clearing bank

Kids Definition

clearing

noun

clear·​ing ˈkli(ə)r-iŋ 

1

: the act or process of making or becoming clear

2

: an area of land cleared of wood and brush