clear 1 of 3

adjective

ˈklir How to pronounce clear (audio)
Definition of clearnext
1
as in crystal
easily seen through the clear glass walls of the aquarium's giant ocean tank

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2
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation the meaning of her broad smile was clear to the whole class

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3
as in confident
having or showing a mind free from doubt I need to be absolutely clear about what you're saying

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4
as in sunny
not stormy or cloudy novice pilots can only fly on clear days

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5
as in conclusive
serving to put an end to all debate or questioning the evidence is clear: he's innocent

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6
as in cleared
allowing passage without obstruction flooding was widespread, and only some roads are clear so far

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7
as in innocent
free from guilt or blame slept with a clear conscience

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8
as in shining
giving off or reflecting much light spermaceti candles were once highly prized for the clear flame that they produced

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clear

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to open
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way the early settlers worked hard to clear the land for crops

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2
as in to rid
to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers cleared the woods of brush

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3
as in to pay
to give what is owed for finally cleared the last debt

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4
as in to empty
to remove the contents of cleared a drawer so there would be a place to store his clothes

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5
as in to clarify
to remove usually visible impurities from cleared the car windows

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6
as in to free
to set free from entanglement or difficulty cleared himself of any involvement in the matter

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7
as in to smooth
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions plows promptly cleared the roads of snow

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8
as in to acquit
to free from a charge of wrongdoing she had once been accused of embezzlement, but an investigation by the bank cleared her

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9
as in to approve
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory the administration cleared the plan, and building should begin shortly

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10
as in to remove
to take away from a place or position cleared the dishes from the table

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11
as in to inform
to give information to please clear my mind about the new arrangement regarding reimbursement for traveling expenses

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12
as in to earn
to receive after charges and deductions have been made cleared enough from that stock transaction to be able to afford a new luxury automobile

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clear

3 of 3

adverb

as in through

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clear contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clear are limpid, translucent, and transparent. While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

When could limpid be used to replace clear?

Although the words limpid and clear have much in common, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

When can translucent be used instead of clear?

The synonyms translucent and clear are sometimes interchangeable, but translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

When would transparent be a good substitute for clear?

While the synonyms transparent and clear are close in meaning, transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

Examples of clear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But the jaw-dropping first stage capture back at the launch pad, using pincer-like arms more familiarly known as chopsticks, was the clear highlight of the giant rocket's fifth test flight. —William Harwood, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2024 The bottom line: America needs data centers — what's less clear is where to put them. —Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 13 Oct. 2024
Verb
Populations declined drastically in the 1800s as the forests were cleared for human settlement, and by the late 19th century sightings were so rare that people began taking the birds for museums and private collections, Fitzpatrick said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2024 June 2024 Judgment: Life may have been feeling confusing lately, but June is going to give you the opportunity to clear things up. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2024
Adverb
So Selleck and Clint Eastwood steered clear as Travolta famously danced with Princess Diana at a White House state dinner thrown by President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan in November 1985. —Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024 Our rights to engage with likeminded voters and encourage them to vote for @KamalaHarris – the clear better choice for the country – will not be suppressed. —Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for clear 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Phrases Containing clear

Thesaurus Entries Near clear

cleanups

clear

clearance

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Cite this Entry

“Clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear. Accessed 18 Oct. 2024.

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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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