to clear
- verb
- /klɪr/
- Formal
- I spoke with the principal, and they cleared it.
- clear the way
- clear customs
- cleared the Senate
Examples
-
We'll send it in so Mr. Nyquist can clear it for broadcast.
Fiction book (1998) -
The Board will clear him.
-
You are cleared to fire.
-
I would hate to have to get a product cleared in the European Community.
Academic text (1999) -
You need Dr. Ranson to clear you before you go back to fighting bad guys.
-
Sir, as I've already told you, there are protocols before you can be cleared to resume command.
-
With a handful of travelers, we cleared security and waited near the tarmac to board the jet.
Academic text (2000) -
The committee has cleared the proposal for funding after careful consideration.
-
The security team cleared the area for the event with an official announcement.
-
After the investigation, the attorney confirmed that the lawsuit was cleared by the judge.
Synonyms
To officially approve a law or rule
To officially agree to something or think that it is good
To give official permission for someone to do something
To officially approve a person for a job, often by vote
To give official approval, usually by writing your name on a document
Officially approve an agreement, law, or decision
To give official permission for something
To give official permission to proceed
Approve a law or decision again
To give permission to start or use something
To officially approve a product for legal or technical use
Antonyms
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
- Informal
To stay away from people and things that may cause trouble or harm
- Informal
Help people stop feeling angry or worried by talking about the problem
- Informal
Finish current tasks and remove problems to prepare for something new
- Texting
Deal with all the emails in your inbox so it is empty or easy to handle
Compounds
- Formal
A signal like a siren or announcement that tells people it is safe after an emergency
- Formal
A legal rule that allows stopping speech when it poses a serious, obvious threat to public safety
A message that clearly shows someone's opinion or decision and is easy to understand
- Specialized
Sudden strong air movement in clear sky that shakes airplanes
- Specialized
Only clear drinks and foods like broth, juice or gelatin for medical reasons
A clear division between two groups that shows who supports each side in a dispute
- Specialized
A clear, thin layer put on wood or other surfaces to protect them and make them look shiny
How Approved
Surface Forms
Etymology
To clear something officially (for example, customs) is to make it 'free' of legal problems, and this idea comes from Latin clarus meaning 'plain' or 'free', so being clear means you are allowed to go ahead.