clear

SayKLEER/klɪɹ/UK/klɪə/

Adjectiveclearer, clearest

Verbclears, clearing, cleared

42 meanings of clear

Practice

1
easy to understandadjective
Easy to understand, with no confusion about what is meant.
Like simple directions that nobody has to ask about twice.
The teacher gave clear instructions, so everyone knew what to do.
Her answer was clear and left no doubt in my mind.
UsageSay it is clear that and make it clear that.
Similarplain, obvious, explicit, unambiguous, straightforward
Oppositevague, ambiguous, confusing, obscure
2
adjective
Easy to see through, without cloudiness.
Like looking through a clean window.
The water in the lake was so clear we could see the fish.
She poured the juice into a clear glass.
UsagePeople say crystal clear for very clear water.
Similartransparent
Oppositecloudy, opaque, murky, muddy
Note
3
verbtransitive
To take things away from a place so it is open or empty.
Like sweeping toys off the floor so you have room to walk.
Please clear the table after dinner.
Workers cleared the road of fallen branches.
UsageClear the table, or clear snow off the road.
Similarempty
Oppositeblock, obstruct, clog, fill
Note
4
verbtransitive
To take away confusion or doubt so something is understood.
Like wiping mist off a mirror so you can finally see.
Let me clear the confusion about the schedule.
Her explanation cleared my doubts about the plan.
UsagePeople often say clear up: clear up the confusion.
Similardispel, resolve, settle, clarify
5
no cloudsadjective
Having no clouds in the sky.
Like a wide blue sky with no white clouds.
The sky was clear, so we could see all the stars.
We went hiking on a clear summer day.
UsageOften clear skies or a clear day.
Similarcloudless, fine, fair, bright
Oppositecloudy, overcast
Note
6
adjective
Easy to see or hear distinctly.
Like a fresh footprint pressed sharp into wet sand.
The photo was clear, so we could see every face.
He drew a clear line down the middle of the page.
UsageOften in a clear image or a clear voice.
Oppositeblurred, indistinct, fuzzy, faint
7
not blockedadjective
Open and empty, with nothing in the way to block you.
Like an empty hallway you can walk through without bumping into anything.
The road was clear, so we drove straight home.
Make sure the path is clear before you run down it.
UsageKeep the exit clear. The coast is clear means no one will stop you.
Similaropen, free, unobstructed, unblocked, empty
Oppositeblocked, obstructed
Note
8
adverb
Away from something, so you are not touching it or near it.
Like stepping back from a fire so the flames cannot reach you.
Stand clear of the closing doors.
She jumped clear of the falling rocks.
UsageSay stand clear of or keep clear of.
Similarfree, away
9
verbtransitive
To give or get official permission for something.
Like getting a green light that says you may go.
The tower cleared the plane for takeoff.
Doctors must clear her before she can play again.
UsageCleared for takeoff; clear a plan with your boss.
Similarapprove, authorize, pass, sanction, permit
Oppositereject, refuse, deny, ban
10
prove innocentverbtransitive
To show that someone did not do something wrong that they were blamed for, often a crime.
Like wiping a stain off someone's name.
New evidence helped clear the man of all charges.
The court cleared her of any wrongdoing.
UsageSay clear someone of a crime, or clear your name.
Similarexonerate, acquit, absolve, vindicate
Oppositeconvict, incriminate, implicate
Note
11
resetverbtransitive
To reset something back to empty or to zero.
Like erasing a whiteboard so you can start writing again.
Press this button to clear the screen.
She cleared the calculator before starting the next sum.
UsageOften clear the screen or clear your history.
Similarreset, empty, flush, wipe, zero
Oppositeset
Note
12
verbintransitive
To become open or see-through after being blocked or cloudy.
Like fog lifting so you can see the road again.
The sky began to clear after the rain.
The muddy water slowly cleared overnight.
UsageOften for weather: the sky cleared or cleared up.
Similarlift, disperse, dissipate
Oppositecloud
13
verbtransitive
To go over or past something without touching it.
Like a bird flying just over a fence without touching it.
The truck barely cleared the low bridge.
Make sure the boat will clear the rocks at low tide.
UsageOften barely cleared: it just got over.
Similarjump, vault, hurdle
14
adjective
Having no marks or faults, like freckles on skin or knots in wood.
Her skin is much clearer since she started washing her face every night.
We need clear wood with no knots to build this table.
UsageOften clear skin.
Similarunblemished, flawless
Oppositeblemished, spotty
Note
15
adjective
Able to understand things directly and sharply, and to notice small differences.
He has a clear eye and can tell a real painting from a fake.
Grandma is very old, but her mind is still clear and sharp.
UsageOften a clear mind.
Similarsharp, keen, acute, incisive, lucid
Oppositemuddled, confused, dull
Note
16
adjective
Sure that you understand something, and not confused about it.
Is everyone clear about what to bring tomorrow?
She asked a few questions to be clearer about the rules before the game.
Similarsure, certain
Oppositeunsure, uncertain, confused
Note

Less common meanings

17
go through (payment)verbintransitive
Of a check or payment, to go through so the money is paid.
Like a package that has to be checked before it can be delivered.
Large checks can take a week to clear.
The payment cleared overnight, so the money is now in her account.
UsageSay the check cleared or it takes days to clear.
Oppositebounce
Note
18
complete (a stage)verbtransitive
To finish a level, stage, or game by reaching its end.
Like finishing every level of a board game and reaching the end.
She cleared the final level on her first try.
You need to clear this stage to unlock the next one.
Similarcomplete, finish, beat
Note
19
leave quicklyverbintransitive
To go away quickly and suddenly.
Like birds flying off all at once when a loud noise scares them.
When the police showed up, the kids cleared out fast.
The fans began to clear once the game ended.
UsageUsually clear off or clear out. Clear off! is rude.
Similarleave, disperse
Note
20
defend goalverbtransitive or intransitive
To kick or knock a ball away from your goal to stop the other team from scoring.
Like pushing a ball away from your door so no one can kick it inside.
The defender cleared the ball just before it crossed the line.
Their keeper rushed out to clear before the striker reached the ball.
UsageOften clear it off the line.
Note
21
free yourselfverbtransitive
To get free from trouble, debt, or things that hold you back.
Like untangling yourself from a knot until you can move freely.
He saved hard and finally cleared himself of every debt.
It took years for the firm to clear itself of its old obligations.
UsageSay clear yourself of debts.
Similarfree, rid, extricate
Note
22
plainly heardadverb
In a way that is easy to see, hear, or understand.
Like a bell that everyone hears the same way.
Please speak loud and clear so the back row can hear you.
He stated his reasons clear and simple for everyone present.
UsageMostly in loud and clear. Most of the time, use clearly.
Similarplainly, distinctly
Note
23
adjectivefiguratively
Not guilty of doing something wrong, and not under suspicion.
Like having a report card with no marks against you.
The judge said the driver was clear of all blame for the crash.
After the video proved he was home all night, he was in the clear.
UsageSay a clear conscience or in the clear.
Similarfree, clean
Note
24
adverb
Right across, from one side all the way to the other.
Like throwing a ball all the way across the yard.
The ball flew clear over the fence.
We could hear the bell clear across town.
UsagePut it before words like across: clear across town.
Similarright, clean, completely
25
bright (light)adjective
Bright and full of light, not dark or dim.
Like a candle that shines steady and bright.
The lamp gave a clear, bright glow.
The candle burned with a clear, bright flame.
Similarbright, luminous, light
Oppositedark, dim, gloomy
26
after costsadjective
Left over after all costs have been taken away, as in a clear profit.
Like the money left in your pocket after you pay for everything.
After paying every bill, she made a clear profit of fifty dollars.
The job pays a clear hundred dollars a week.
UsageUsed before an amount of money or profit: a clear $400.
Similarnet, full, whole
Oppositegross
Note
27
make a profitverbtransitive
To earn a set amount of money as profit.
Like counting what is left in the till after the day's costs are paid.
The shop cleared two thousand dollars last month.
If sales hold, they will clear a tidy sum this year.
UsageUsed with an amount of money: clear $500 on a deal.
Similarnet, earn, make, pocket
Oppositelose
Note
28
adjective
Of the sky, mostly free of cloud, with under an eighth of it covered.
29
adjective
With almost no taste, smell or feel you can notice.
30
adjective
In Scientology, rid of the bad hidden memories it says cause problems.
31
adjective
Calm and happy, not upset by strong feelings.
32
adjective
Pure, with nothing mixed in.
33
adjective
Of a train signal, green so the train can go.
34
adjectivedialectalMulticultural London English
Great, better than anything else.
35
adjectivedialectalMulticultural London English
Ahead of others, especially in a sports table.
36
verb
To get official permission to go, as a ship does at a port.
37
verb
To get permission to use part of another recording in your song.
38
verb
In web design, to make an element go below items that float beside it.
39
verb
To empty a gun, or make sure it is empty, for safety.
40
noun
The open space measured between two walls or surfaces.
41
noun
Finishing a game or a part of it successfully.
42
noun
In Scientology, a person said to be rid of bad hidden memories.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of clear apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin clarus, which came into English through Old French cler.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The ultimate source of clear is Latin clarus. en.wiktionary.org
The word entered English through Old French cler. en.wiktionary.org