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b
: easily visible : plain
c
: free from obscurity or ambiguity : easily understood : unmistakable
clearness
noun
cleared; clearing; clears
4
a
: to free from what obstructs or is unneeded: such as
(1)
(4)
: to erase stored or displayed data from (a device, such as a computer or calculator)
c
6
a
: to free from obligation or encumbrance
c(1)
: to free (a ship or shipment) by payment of duties or harbor fees
(2)
: to pass through (customs)
d
: to gain without deduction : net
e
: to put through a clearinghouse
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective
There are clear differences between the two candidates.
She's the clear favorite to win the election.
I'm not completely happy with the plan, but I see no clear alternative.
He was the clear winner.
She has made it abundantly clear that she does not support us.
It's not clear how much longer we'll have to wait.
“Changes will have to be made.” “Yes, that's clear.”
Her writing has a clear style.
The instructions weren't very clear about when we were supposed to begin.
I think I have a clear understanding of the problem.
Adverb
We drove clear across the state.
The ball rolled clear across the street.
Verb
The sky cleared after the rain.
The weather is cloudy now, but it's clearing gradually.
The morning fog gradually cleared.
When the smoke cleared, we could see that the building had been completely destroyed.
The water cleared after the mud had settled.
My skin cleared when I started using the cream.
They cleared timber from the land.
She cleared everything out of the closet.
I'll clear those books out of the way.
The police ordered the crowd to clear the area.
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Recent Examples on the Web
John Woodrow Cox, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Nov. 2022
President Tong, from his vantage point a few feet above the Pacific, offered a clear-eyed view.
Bill Mckibben, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2022
The Razorbacks received Musselman's message loud and clear.
Bob Holt, Arkansas Online, 21 Nov. 2022
Black pastors often gave sermons that could be heard loud and clear through the many small Black churches.
Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 21 Nov. 2022
More than anything, it was made clear on Monday that FIFA would not indulge those who wanted to bring their causes to this event or to this country in the days and weeks to come.
John Branch, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2022
Too often this year, it has been made abundantly clear why Fox and the Big Ten enticed the Trojans and Bruins into a Midwestern migration that would change college sports forever.
Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2022
But one answer seems clear: Musk appears to be betting that if users can’t turn away from the platform, neither can advertisers.
Seth Fiegerman, CNN, 20 Nov. 2022
Storms intensify so quickly now—with wind speed dramatically increasing in a matter of hours—that sometimes LUMCON must initiate its evacuation procedure before the storm tracks become clear.
Boyce Upholt, WIRED, 19 Nov. 2022
Jenny Taitz, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2022
Everything Primer is a conscious product that mattifies, blurs, and prepares the skin for makeup while steering clear of harmful ingredients like parabens, silicones, phthalates, and more.
Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2022
The Enquirer is generally steering clear of photos that show blood, bodies or minors.
Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2022
As for China, SpaceX looks like it’s steering clear of the country.
PCMAG, 11 Oct. 2022
The company reviewed satellite images for only a fraction of California’s geography, steering clear of federal and agricultural lands.
Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022
She’s sticking with cyber security stocks and companies that invest in cloud services like Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet Inc., while steering clear of struggling social-media firms like Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc.
Fortune, 28 Aug. 2022
Make sure there is appropriate clearance above the fire pit as well as around it, steering clear of tree branches, awnings, power lines, and other combustible materials.
Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2022
Others are steering clear of debt tied disproportionately to people with low credit scores, or demanding higher returns to hold it.
Matt Grossman, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022
Dylan Bumbarger, oregonlive, 26 Nov. 2022
Yet Johanna, in turn, knew leaning into her anger wouldn’t work against her sister, trying to keep cool and clear her head.
Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2022
Now, to manage and clear the glut, the companies are leaning into special promotions, especially for products such as electronics, home goods and some apparel.
Rob Wile, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2022
The first four - Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kerby Joseph, Brock Wright and De'Shon Elliott - returned without missing a game, but did not clear concussion protocol until the Friday or Saturday of game week.
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2022
Neighbors also used their snowblowers to help clear the driveway of Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown.
Greg Cannella, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2022
Among other new eight-letter words, the kind that help players clear their seven-tile racks for 50 extra points: hogsbane, more commonly known as giant hogweed.
Leanne Italie, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2022
Though the idea of trading freedom for effect may seem the literal antithesis of empowerment, that imagery helped clear a path in the collective imagination.
Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Throws snow up to 20 feet away and can clear paths with 10 inches of snow in depth.
Kaylee Remington, cleveland, 17 Nov. 2022
Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Oct. 2021
Eagles coach Denise Wolf said adjustments designed to improve clears and get better looks off corners helped keep her team in strong contention, particularly in a back-and-forth first half.
Rich Scherr, baltimoresun.com, 1 Nov. 2019
Although the public health guidelines are clear - steer clear of others - these workers are putting in longer shifts and taking on bigger workloads.
Author: Abha Bhattarai, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Apr. 2020
But steer clear of buying this for gamers looking for a traditional Sonic or Mario platformers: This might be a loser for them.
Lisa Marie Segarra, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2019
Brady adds that Kennedy, who has committed to play at Virginia Tech, was just as valuable on defending clears thanks to her strong footwork.
Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, 10 June 2019
Off the beaches, Spanish mackerel will turn on as soon as winds drop and water clears, and cobia are also in the area around markers and other structure.
Frank Sargeant, AL.com, 20 Apr. 2018
Brady adds that Kennedy, who has committed to play at Virginia Tech, was just as valuable on defending clears thanks to her strong footwork.
Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, 10 June 2019
Domagoj Vida had seven clears from the Croatian defense.
Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 July 2018
See More
Adjective
Regardless of the disagreements, only more carnage awaits, as the recent past has made clear.
John Woodrow Cox, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Nov. 2022
President Tong, from his vantage point a few feet above the Pacific, offered a clear-eyed view.
Bill Mckibben, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2022
The Razorbacks received Musselman's message loud and clear.
Bob Holt, Arkansas Online, 21 Nov. 2022
Black pastors often gave sermons that could be heard loud and clear through the many small Black churches.
Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 21 Nov. 2022
More than anything, it was made clear on Monday that FIFA would not indulge those who wanted to bring their causes to this event or to this country in the days and weeks to come.
John Branch, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2022
Too often this year, it has been made abundantly clear why Fox and the Big Ten enticed the Trojans and Bruins into a Midwestern migration that would change college sports forever.
Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2022
But one answer seems clear: Musk appears to be betting that if users can’t turn away from the platform, neither can advertisers.
Seth Fiegerman, CNN, 20 Nov. 2022
Storms intensify so quickly now—with wind speed dramatically increasing in a matter of hours—that sometimes LUMCON must initiate its evacuation procedure before the storm tracks become clear.
Boyce Upholt, WIRED, 19 Nov. 2022
Adverb
That may include talking about cultivating healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, exercising and steering clear of substances.
Jenny Taitz, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2022
Everything Primer is a conscious product that mattifies, blurs, and prepares the skin for makeup while steering clear of harmful ingredients like parabens, silicones, phthalates, and more.
Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2022
The Enquirer is generally steering clear of photos that show blood, bodies or minors.
Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2022
As for China, SpaceX looks like it’s steering clear of the country.
PCMAG, 11 Oct. 2022
The company reviewed satellite images for only a fraction of California’s geography, steering clear of federal and agricultural lands.
Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022
She’s sticking with cyber security stocks and companies that invest in cloud services like Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet Inc., while steering clear of struggling social-media firms like Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc.
Fortune, 28 Aug. 2022
Make sure there is appropriate clearance above the fire pit as well as around it, steering clear of tree branches, awnings, power lines, and other combustible materials.
Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2022
Others are steering clear of debt tied disproportionately to people with low credit scores, or demanding higher returns to hold it.
Matt Grossman, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022
Verb
Aidan Sotas and Zakreski can’t clear a puck out of the slot, Iginla finds it and beats Špunar.
Dylan Bumbarger, oregonlive, 26 Nov. 2022
Yet Johanna, in turn, knew leaning into her anger wouldn’t work against her sister, trying to keep cool and clear her head.
Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2022
Now, to manage and clear the glut, the companies are leaning into special promotions, especially for products such as electronics, home goods and some apparel.
Rob Wile, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2022
The first four - Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kerby Joseph, Brock Wright and De'Shon Elliott - returned without missing a game, but did not clear concussion protocol until the Friday or Saturday of game week.
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2022
Neighbors also used their snowblowers to help clear the driveway of Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown.
Greg Cannella, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2022
Among other new eight-letter words, the kind that help players clear their seven-tile racks for 50 extra points: hogsbane, more commonly known as giant hogweed.
Leanne Italie, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2022
Though the idea of trading freedom for effect may seem the literal antithesis of empowerment, that imagery helped clear a path in the collective imagination.
Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Throws snow up to 20 feet away and can clear paths with 10 inches of snow in depth.
Kaylee Remington, cleveland, 17 Nov. 2022
Noun
What made his and Marcus’s decision clear was the standard to which UVA’s players are held.
Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Oct. 2021
Eagles coach Denise Wolf said adjustments designed to improve clears and get better looks off corners helped keep her team in strong contention, particularly in a back-and-forth first half.
Rich Scherr, baltimoresun.com, 1 Nov. 2019
Although the public health guidelines are clear - steer clear of others - these workers are putting in longer shifts and taking on bigger workloads.
Author: Abha Bhattarai, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Apr. 2020
But steer clear of buying this for gamers looking for a traditional Sonic or Mario platformers: This might be a loser for them.
Lisa Marie Segarra, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2019
Brady adds that Kennedy, who has committed to play at Virginia Tech, was just as valuable on defending clears thanks to her strong footwork.
Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, 10 June 2019
Off the beaches, Spanish mackerel will turn on as soon as winds drop and water clears, and cobia are also in the area around markers and other structure.
Frank Sargeant, AL.com, 20 Apr. 2018
Brady adds that Kennedy, who has committed to play at Virginia Tech, was just as valuable on defending clears thanks to her strong footwork.
Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, 10 June 2019
Domagoj Vida had seven clears from the Croatian defense.
Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 July 2018
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clear.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Adverb, Verb, and Noun
Middle English clere, from Anglo-French cler, from Latin clarus clear, bright; akin to Latin calare to call — more at low entry 3
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of clear was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing clear
Dictionary Entries Near clear
Cite this Entry
“Clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
clear
1 of 2 adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on clear
Nglish: Translation of clear for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of clear for Arabic Speakers
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