26984 words

clear

50 definitions • 97 examples
1
easy to understand, hear, read, or see:

Examples:

Can we make the sound any clearer?
Our new television has a very clear picture.
2
something you say in order to emphasize what you have just said, or to express your authority:

Examples:

I will not tolerate this behaviour any longer. Do I make myself clear?
3
certain, having no doubt, or obvious:

Examples:

clear about He isn't at all clear about what he wants to do with his life.
[ + (that) ] It is rapidly becoming clear (to me) (that) I'm not suited to being a teacher.
[ + question word ] It isn't clear how long the strike will go on for.
clear case of It's a clear case of corruption.
make your position clear You've made your position quite clear (= there is no doubt about what you think).
4
pure or easy to see through, with no marks or areas that are less transparent:

Examples:

clear glass
clear water The water in the lake is so clear that you can see the bottom.
clear complexion She has a beautifully clear complexion (= with no marks or spots).
clear skin She is lucky to have such clear skin (= with no marks or spots).
5
without clouds, mist, or fog in the sky, so that you can see for a long way:

Examples:

clear weather The weather is expected to remain clear for the next few days.
on a clear day You can see the mountains from here on a clear day.
clear sky We could see hundreds of stars in the clear desert sky.
6
used to describe a pleasant, pure sound:

Examples:

the clear sound of the flute
7
used to describe something that you remember easily:

Examples:

clear memory I have clear memories of visiting my grandfather's farm as a child.
8
not covered or blocked by anything:

Examples:

clear view We have a clear view of the ocean from our hotel window.
clear road The journey was quite quick because the road was clear (= there was not much traffic on it).
clear desk UK I always like to leave my desk clear (= with no work on it) at the end of the day.
9
not busy or filled by any planned activity:

Examples:

The only time I have clear next week is Tuesday afternoon.
We've got two clear (= whole) weeks in which to finish the decorating.
10
without being or feeling guilty:

Examples:

clear conscience to have a clear conscience
11
free from confusion; able to think quickly and well:

Examples:

clear thinker Marie is good at making decisions because she's a very clear thinker.
12
without problems or difficulties:

Examples:

clear of This is the first time in his life that he's been clear of (= without) debt.
13
used to describe an amount of money that is left after all necessary payments have been made:

Examples:

clear profit The school summer fair made a clear profit of £1,500.
Bill earns a clear $400 a week/earns $400 a week clear.
14
not touching something, or away from something:

Examples:

Only one competitor made a clear jump of the highest fence (= jumped over it without touching it).
clear of When we're clear of the main road, we'll stop for our picnic.
15
to remove or get rid of whatever is blocking or filling something, or to stop being blocked or full:

Examples:

It took several hours to clear the road after the accident.
clear the table I'll make the coffee if you'll clear the table.
If you use this nasal spray, your nose should clear.
After my aunt died, we arranged for her house to be cleared (= for the furniture to be removed from it).
If you press this key, the computer screen will clear (= the text and pictures will be removed from it).
Shops are currently holding sales to clear their summer stock (= get rid of goods by selling them cheaply).
clear something of something Paul helped his elderly neighbour by clearing her path of snow.
clear something from something Could you clear your things from the sofa?
clear something off something Could you clear your things off the sofa?
I never leave work until I've cleared my in-tray (= have finished the work that needs to be done).
16
to give a small cough:

Examples:

She cleared her throat nervously before she began to speak.
17
to prove that someone is not guilty of something that they were accused of:

Examples:

be cleared of After many years in prison, the men were finally cleared of the bombings.
18
to give official permission for something:

Examples:

Despite local opposition, the plans for the new supermarket have been cleared by the council.
clear someone/something for something Ladies and gentlemen, air-traffic control has now cleared the plane for take-off.
clear something with someone I don't know if I can get the car tonight - I'll have to clear it with Mum.
19
to satisfy the official conditions of something:

Examples:

clear customs Before you can enter the country, you have to clear customs.
20
to become or make something pure or easy to see through:

Examples:

The children enjoyed stirring the mud at the bottom of the pond, then watching the water slowly clear again.
Your skin would clear (= become free of spots) if you had a healthier diet.
After the thunderstorm, the sky cleared (= stopped being cloudy).
clear (away) The fog is expected to have cleared (away) (= gone) by midday.
21
to make your mind free from confusion so that you can think quickly and well:

Examples:

clear your head I need to get some fresh air to clear my head (= to make me able to think well).
22
to pay back all the money that you owe:

Examples:

They planned to work for a year, clear their debts, then start a new business.
23
to have an amount of money left from your earnings after any necessary payments, charges, taxes, etc.:

Examples:

Bill clears $200 a week.
24
to (cause a cheque to) go from one bank to another through a central organization, so that money can be paid to the person it is owed to:

Examples:

It usually takes four to five working days for a cheque to clear.
25
to jump or go over something without touching it:

Examples:

The horse cleared the fence with inches to spare.
26
not touching, or away from:

Examples:

clear of Stand clear of the doors, please.
Make sure you park clear of the kerb.
The children were saved from the fire only because a neighbour pulled them clear.
27
to avoid something or someone:

Examples:

His parents warned him to steer clear of trouble.
28
easy to understand, or easy to see or hear:

Examples:

I left clear instructions that no one was to come in my office.
He spoke in a clear voice.
It wasn’t clear what he meant.
29
certain or obvious; not in any doubt:

Examples:

[ + that clause ] It’s clear now that it was a mistake to have raised prices last spring.
[ + question word ] It isn’t clear how long the strike will continue.
30
free from confusion; able to think quickly and well:

Examples:

Mary is good at making decisions because she’s a very clear thinker.
31
easy to see through; not cloudy or foggy:

Examples:

clear water
a clear day
fig. I have clear memories of (= I can remember well) visiting my grandfather’s farm when I was a child.
32
If a person’s skin is clear, it has no marks or spots on it:

Examples:

a clear complexion
33
free from guilt:

Examples:

My conscience is clear – I did what I could to help her.
34
not blocked or filled; open or available:

Examples:

We have a clear view of the ocean from our hotel window.
The only time the doctor has clear today is 3:30 – can you make it then?
35
to show someone to be not guilty:

Examples:

He was cleared of all charges, and the judge said he was free to go.
36
to remove or get rid of something or remove something blocking the way, or to move people away from a place:

Examples:

It took several hours to clear the road after the accident.
Please clear the aisle and take your seats.
[ M ] Just let me clear the dishes off the table and put them in the sink.
37
to pass near something without touching it:

Examples:

[ I ] With the high-jump bar at 6 feet 2 inches, she cleared easily.
38
to give official permission for something, or to satisfy the official conditions of something:

Examples:

Our plane has been cleared for takeoff, so will the flight attendants please be seated.
I’m still waiting for my paycheck to clear (= be officially approved and processed) so I can pay my bills.
39
if you clear a debt, you pay back all of the money that you owe:

Examples:

Customers should consider clearing their overdrafts and credit card debt before applying for a home loan.
By cutting costs and scaling back production, the company managed to clear its debts in under two years.
40
to have a particular sum of money left from the amount you have earned after taxes, etc. have been taken out:

Examples:

A city police officer clears about $1,300 every other week.
41
to have a particular amount of money as profit:

Examples:

42
if a cheque or payment clears, or if a bank clears it, money is available because it has been successfully paid from one bank to another:

Examples:

You will not be able to withdraw funds until the bank has cleared your cheque.
International wire transfers may take several business days to clear.
43
to arrange for shares and money to be exchanged at the end of a day of trading on a financial market
44
to give or get official permission for something:

Examples:

clear sth with sb Make sure you clear the budget with you boss first.
be cleared for sth Passenger flights outbound from the airport are often cleared for take off only 60 seconds apart.
be cleared by sb/sth Employees were cleared by security before they were allowed into the building.
clear a proposal/deal/plan
45
to prove that someone is not guilty of something:

Examples:

clear sb of sth An independent review has cleared the company of all charges of fraud.
Accused of professional misconduct, he was eventually able to clear his name.
46
to sell products at a cheap price in order to get rid of them:

Examples:

Bob's Auto Dealers is having a huge sale to clear its inventory of last year's trucks.
47
to be checked by an official and allowed into a country:

Examples:

A driver will be waiting to pick you up after you clear customs and immigration.
Once shipments clear through customs they are moved to distributors or warehouses.
48
to take all your possessions away from your desk or office because you have been told to leave your job:

Examples:

He was given just two hours to clear his desk and get out.
49
to finish all your work:

Examples:

He likes to clear his desk by the end of the day.
50
to change all of your plans so you have time to do something else:

Examples:

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