clear 1 of 3

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clear

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verb

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

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

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clear

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adverb

as in through

Related Words

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clear
Adjective
The mollusks have filtered most of the lakes, turning them from their old greenish hue, which allowed for only a few feet of visibility, to clear blue. Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 By the time Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli began passing other horses and taking aim at Fierceness with the rally that had won him the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness and Haskell Stakes, the leader had spurted clear by 2-1/2 lengths turning into the homestretch. Kevin Modesti, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
From 2013 to 2024, between the beginning of Barack Obama’s second term and the end of Joe Biden’s sole term, the report offers clear metrics to show how the party changed its language and gave support to left-wing bills that had little chance of passage. David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025 The week also began to make the playoff contenders clearer. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Once he is medically cleared to leave the hospital, deputies said the man will be booked into jail on a count of murder. Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2025 The goal is to have the soil fully cleared so that cloches sit directly on the ground. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clear
Adjective
  • With its investments in AI infrastructure and obvious strengths on the power front, this is a country that is building out data centers and positioning itself as a hub for AI, entertainment, sports, finance, high-tech manufacturing and more.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The analyst pointed to Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform, as an obvious artificial intelligence beneficiary.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Republican lawmakers have since called on Underly to overhaul the DPI's approach to investigating teacher licensing to be more transparent.
    Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • While blockchain transactions provide transparent audit trails, corporate financial systems often require custom programming to properly categorize digital asset movements.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In some cases, sportsbooks have taken down odds on certain events to protect against manipulation.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Also, they’re simply banned at certain sites, including all of Greece’s ancient monuments, for preservation reasons.
    Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
    Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The weather is expected to be mostly sunny, becoming partly cloudy, with a high near 56 and a low around 40.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Researchers further explain that the discovery of microscopic deformation features in quartz provides conclusive proof that the Jinlin crater was formed by an asteroid impact.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement What the NFL changed to reduce injuries In recent years, as research about CTE has become more conclusive, some sports leagues have begun to concede that head impacts are a problem.
    Alana Semuels, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ocean-facing rooms are a bit larger, at 430 square feet; note that the Superior Ocean View rooms, on the first floor, provide only a partial view, while the views from the Deluxe Ocean Front rooms are unobstructed.
    Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
  • When driving on a street or highway with unobstructed pavement that's wide enough for two or more lines of vehicles lawfully to proceed, at the same time, in the direction in which the passing vehicle is driving.
    Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • De Silva, police noted, was an innocent bystander who was not involved in the quarrel and was not believed to have been the target.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • So that seemingly innocent Machu Picchu stamp—one of the most popular souvenir stamps around—could be viewed not as a harmless keepsake but as an unauthorized alteration that might jeopardize your ability to travel.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The best shining example of something that was influenced by us is the British version of The Office.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Attendees rode in support of and alongside community member Eva Zamora, who is a shining example of how to live your best life with Parkinson’s disease and takes cycle classes at EōS regularly, a news release stated.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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