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Glite Dictionary
📝 Easy to understand 🧹 To remove things 🌤️ No obstacles 💬 To explain 🔊 Easily understood ✅ To approve officially 💧 To make pure 😌 No guilt 🏃‍♂️ To go over 🤧 To cough slightly 🔔 Pure or sharp 🆓 No blame 💰 To earn money 📄 No claims 🗑️ To erase data
to clear

to clear

430 2.8
To make something easy to understand
  • verb
  • /klɪr/
: aclarar
  • I just wanted to clear the air.
  • make clear
  • clear up the confusion
  • clear the air

They think it's about just clearing your mind, focusing on your breath.

Examples

  • Like many exonerees, he struggled to clear his name and his record so he could get work.

    Academic text (2011)

  • "One day will be enough to clear up whatever it is you wanted to do?"

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I want to make it clear this is a moral issue.

  • Keep your people inside until this has been cleared up.

    Anna Karenina (2012)

  • Are you sure that everything is cleared up?

    The Exile (1947)

  • Am I providing appropriate writing topics and making them clear and concrete?

    Academic text (2015)

  • I was hoping to chat a while, build some rapport, and then clear up the misunderstanding.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • To resolve the misunderstanding, let us clear up the details about the agreement we made.

  • We need to clear any doubts about the project before proceeding with the next steps.

  • The manager held a meeting to clear up confusion regarding the new policies in the department.

Synonyms

to sort out
vsto clear
306 2.7

To find and fix a problem or confusion

is narrower, concentrating on removing doubt or ambiguity rather than only problems
to clarify
vsto clear
255 3.3

To make something clear so others can understand it

emphasizes removing doubt or ambiguity rather than only explaining
to clear up
vsto clear
164 2.3

To explain something so people understand it

is about removing doubt or uncertainty specifically, not only resolving confusion
to straighten out
vsto clear
110 3.4

To solve a problem or make a misunderstanding clear

focuses on ending uncertainty or doubt rather than only correcting situations
to shed light on
vsto clear
78 3.9

To help people understand something by explaining it

does the same but focuses on eliminating doubt or uncertainty
to enlighten
vsto clear
50 4.8

To give someone clear information to help them understand something

focuses more narrowly on removing doubt or uncertainty than on teaching
to illuminate
vsto clear
38 4.8

To make something clear or easier to understand

targets removal of doubt or ambiguity rather than general illumination
to crystallize
vsto clear
  • US
16 5.8

To become clear and definite, as an idea or plan

is about removing uncertainty rather than creating definite form
to elucidate
vsto clear
  • Formal
11 6.8

To explain something so it is easy to understand

is more about ending uncertainty than only offering explanation
to clearly state
vsto clear
7 2.7

Say or write something so people have no doubt

is broader, covering any removal of uncertainty beyond just stating information
to set things straight
vsto clear
  • Informal
6 4.2

To correct a wrong idea or explain what really happened

targets removal of doubt and uncertainty more generally than mere correction
to disambiguate
vsto clear
1 7.7

To make something clear by removing confusion

focuses on removing doubt or uncertainty generally rather than only meanings
to uncloud
vsto clear
1 5.8

To make something clear by removing clouds or confusion

aims specifically at removing doubt or uncertainty rather than general clearing

Idioms

in the clear
  • Informal
41 4.4

Not in danger, trouble, or under suspicion

the coast is clear
  • Informal
20 3.2

Safe to go because no one is watching

clear and to the point
1 3.7

Easy to understand without extra details

to see one's way clear
  • Informal
8.0

Decide you can do something after problems are solved

Phrasal Verbs

to clear out
194 3.1

Remove all things from a place so it becomes empty

to clear up
164 2.3

To explain something so people understand it

to clear up
62 2.6

To finish tasks completely so nothing is left

to steer clear of
  • Informal
38 4.0

To stay away from people and things that may cause trouble or harm

to clear someone's mind
36 3.7

To stop worrying and think calmly to focus

to clear away
25 1.8

To take things away from a place to make it tidy

to clear up
25 2.0

To become clear after cloudy or rainy weather

to clear the air
  • Informal
25 4.1

Help people stop feeling angry or worried by talking about the problem

to clear off
24 3.0

Remove things from a surface to make it empty or clean

to clear the table
9 1.1

Remove dishes and other things from the table after a meal

to clear the decks
  • Informal
5 5.7

Finish current tasks and remove problems to prepare for something new

to clear-cut
  • Specialized
4 6.1

To cut down all the trees in an area at once

to clear out
1 4.6

Remove mucus from the chest or lungs by coughing

to clear the throat
1 2.7

To cough slightly to remove mucus from your throat or to get attention

to clear (someone's) inbox
  • Texting
1 3.0

Deal with all the emails in your inbox so it is empty or easy to handle

to clear one's head
1 3.9

To stop thinking about upsetting or confusing thoughts to feel calmer

to clear the table
  • Specialized
1 4.2

Remove all rows from a database table to make it empty

to make oneself clear
3.4

Say something so other people understand what you mean

to set a clear boundary
4.1

To make a clear line between two areas or kinds of activity

Compounds

all clear
  • Formal
79 3.2

A signal like a siren or announcement that tells people it is safe after an emergency

clear-cut
45 4.2

Easy to see and understand

crystal clear
  • Informal
41 2.5

Very easy to understand or hear

clear sign
16 1.3

An obvious thing that shows something is true

crystal clear
14 3.1

Completely see-through so you can easily see inside

clear statement
13 2.1

A message that clearly shows someone's opinion or decision and is easy to understand

clear and present danger
  • Formal
10 7.6

A legal rule that allows stopping speech when it poses a serious, obvious threat to public safety

clear communication
4 2.5

An exchange of information that people understand easily

clear sailing
  • Informal
2 3.5

A time when things move forward easily and without problems

clear-air turbulence
  • Specialized
1 8.4

Sudden strong air movement in clear sky that shakes airplanes

clear blue sea
1 1.2

A calm part of the ocean that has very clear blue water

clear liquid diet
  • Specialized
1 3.7

Only clear drinks and foods like broth, juice or gelatin for medical reasons

clear-cutting
  • Specialized
1 5.2

Cutting down all the trees in an area at once

clear-eyed analysis
1 6.0

An honest, fair look at the facts

clear glaze
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A clear, thin layer put on wood or other surfaces to protect them and make them look shiny

clear alignment
1 3.9

A clear agreement with an idea, policy, or group

clear battle line
1 5.4

A clear division between two groups that shows who supports each side in a dispute

How Clear

to settle
515 3.3
to clarify
255 3.3
to clear
430 2.8
to explain
∞ 1.0
to confuse
152 1.9

Surface Forms

clear infinitive
cleared past
cleared past participle
clearing present participle
clears third person singular

Etymology

To clear up a problem comes from Latin clarus 'bright' — imagine making an idea bright and easy to see — so to clear something is to remove doubt or confusion.