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to clear

to clear

78 3.1
To go over or past something without touching it
  • verb
  • /klɪr/
: saltar
  • As the airplane ascended, it cleared the clouds and revealed a beautiful blue sky.

This thing really doesn't clear the ground as it's going up.

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Examples

  • Uruguayan 571, cleared to 10,000 ft.

  • The Belle, flying very low, barely clearing the treetops, just Engine One still turning.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Clear to drop in five, four, three, two, one.

  • Hit the plunger - as soon as they clear the bridge!

  • We've got to climb fast if we're going to clear those trees.

  • Some lose their boat to the first wave; others clear the surf and scramble aboard.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • My shot is conservative, but it clears the Ditch with yards to spare.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • A moment later, the helicopter passes it, the rotor just clearing the top of the car.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The Delta II went up four feet, cleared the launch tower, and promptly nose-dived into the ground.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The basketball soared through the air and cleared the top of the backboard effortlessly.

Synonyms

to pass
vsto clear
∞ 1.0

To move past something or someone

focuses specifically on avoiding contact with obstacles rather than route type
to pass by
vsto clear
104 1.2

Go past someone or something without stopping

is about avoiding contact rather than about stopping or not while moving
to walk past
vsto clear
97 1.0

To go past something on foot without stopping

applies to any moving object clearing obstacles, not only people on foot
to glide
vsto clear
78 2.9

To move smoothly and without effort through the air or over a surface

highlights avoiding touch with obstacles rather than the smooth manner of motion
to pass over
vsto clear
31 3.3

To move across a place, often above the ground

is the general notion of going past, over, or under without contact
to fly by
vsto clear
7 2.2

To move past something while in the air

applies to any moving object clearing an obstacle, not only airborne ones
to skim over
vsto clear
1 3.9

To move quickly and lightly just above a surface

covers any route avoiding contact, not only quick light movement

Antonyms

86 3.1

Crash into each other while moving

Idioms

in the clear
  • Informal
41 4.4

Not in danger, trouble, or under suspicion

20 3.2

Safe to go because no one is watching

Easy to understand without extra details

8.0

Decide you can do something after problems are solved

Phrasal Verbs

194 3.1

Remove all things from a place so it becomes empty

164 2.3

To explain something so people understand it

62 2.6

To finish tasks completely so nothing is left

38 4.0

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

To stop worrying and think calmly to focus

25 1.8

To take things away from a place to make it tidy

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

24 3.0

Remove things from a surface to make it empty or clean

Remove dishes and other things from the table after a meal

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

1 4.6

Remove mucus from the chest or lungs by coughing

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

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

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

Say something so other people understand what you mean

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

45 4.2

Easy to see and understand

crystal clear
  • Informal
41 2.5

Very easy to understand or hear

16 1.3

An obvious thing that shows something is true

14 3.1

Completely see-through so you can easily see inside

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

10 7.6

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

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

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

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

A clear agreement with an idea, policy, or group

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

How Clean

to vault
15 4.4
to clear
78 3.1
to miss
549 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

To clear a jump or obstacle means to pass it without touching, and you can remember this by thinking of making a space 'free' and open — the same idea behind Latin clarus of being plain and free.