clear Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the state of being free of suspicion
    • investigation showed that he was in the clear
  2. noun a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
    open.
    • finally broke out of the forest into the open
  3. verb rid of obstructions
    unclutter.
    • Clear your desk
  4. verb make a way or path by removing objects
    • Clear a path through the dense forest
  5. verb become clear
    clear up; light up; brighten.
    • The sky cleared after the storm
  6. verb grant authorization or clearance for
    authorize; authorise; pass.
    • Clear the manuscript for publication
    • The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography
  7. verb remove
    • clear the leaves from the lawn
    • Clear snow from the road
  8. verb go unchallenged; be approved
    pass.
    • The bill cleared the House
  9. verb be debited and credited to the proper bank accounts
    • The check will clear within 2 business days
  10. verb go away or disappear
    • The fog cleared in the afternoon
  11. verb pass by, over, or under without making contact
    top.
    • the balloon cleared the tree tops
  12. verb make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
    crystallise; illuminate; straighten out; elucidate; clear up; crystallize; sort out; crystalise; shed light on; crystalize; enlighten.
    • Could you clarify these remarks?
    • Clear up the question of who is at fault
  13. verb free from payment of customs duties, as of a shipment
    • Clear the ship and let it dock
  14. verb clear from impurities, blemishes, pollution, etc.
    • clear the water before it can be drunk
  15. verb yield as a net profit
    net.
    • This sale netted me $1 million
  16. verb make as a net profit
    net; sack up; sack.
    • The company cleared $1 million
  17. verb earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
    earn; bring in; pull in; take in; gain; realise; realize; make.
    • How much do you make a month in your new job?
    • She earns a lot in her new job
    • this merger brought in lots of money
    • He clears $5,000 each month
  18. verb sell
    • We cleared a lot of the old model cars
  19. verb pass an inspection or receive authorization
    • clear customs
  20. verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
    exculpate; acquit; discharge; assoil; exonerate.
    • The suspect was cleared of the murder charges
  21. verb settle, as of a debt
    solve.
    • clear a debt
    • solve an old debt
  22. verb make clear, bright, light, or translucent
    • The water had to be cleared through filtering
  23. verb rid of instructions or data
    • clear a memory buffer
  24. verb remove (people) from a building
    • clear the patrons from the theater after the bomb threat
  25. verb remove the occupants of
    • Clear the building
  26. verb free (the throat) by making a rasping sound
    clear up.
    • Clear the throat
  27. adjective readily apparent to the mind
    • a clear and present danger
    • a clear explanation
    • a clear case of murder
    • a clear indication that she was angry
    • gave us a clear idea of human nature
  28. adjective satellite free from confusion or doubt
    • a complex problem requiring a clear head
    • not clear about what is expected of us
  29. adjective satellite affording free passage or view
    open.
    • a clear view
    • a clear path to victory
    • open waters
    • the open countryside
  30. adjective allowing light to pass through
    • clear water
    • clear plastic bags
    • clear glass
    • the air is clear and clean
  31. adjective satellite free from contact or proximity or connection
    • we were clear of the danger
    • the ship was clear of the reef
  32. adjective satellite characterized by freedom from troubling thoughts (especially guilt)
    • a clear conscience
    • regarded her questioner with clear untroubled eyes
  33. adjective satellite (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
    light; unclouded; clean.
    • efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings
    • clear laughter like a waterfall
    • clear reds and blues
    • a light lilting voice like a silver bell
  34. adjective satellite (especially of a title) free from any encumbrance or limitation that presents a question of fact or law
    unmortgaged.
    • I have clear title to this property
  35. adjective satellite clear and distinct to the senses; easily perceptible
    clear-cut; clean-cut.
    • as clear as a whistle
    • clear footprints in the snow
    • the letter brought back a clear image of his grandfather
    • a spire clean-cut against the sky
    • a clear-cut pattern
  36. adjective accurately stated or described
    well-defined.
    • a set of well-defined values
  37. adjective free from clouds or mist or haze
    • on a clear day
  38. adjective satellite free of restrictions or qualifications
    clean.
    • a clean bill of health
    • a clear winner
  39. adjective satellite free from flaw or blemish or impurity
    • a clear perfect diamond
    • the clear complexion of a healthy young woman
  40. adjective satellite clear of charges or deductions
    • a clear profit
  41. adjective satellite easily deciphered
    readable; decipherable.
  42. adjective satellite freed from any question of guilt
    vindicated; exonerated; absolved; exculpated; cleared.
    • is absolved from all blame
    • was now clear of the charge of cowardice
    • his official honor is vindicated
  43. adjective satellite characterized by ease and quickness in perceiving
    percipient.
    • clear mind
    • a percipient author
  44. adverb completely
    all the way.
    • read the book clear to the end
    • slept clear through the night
    • there were open fields clear to the horizon
  45. adverb in an easily perceptible manner
    clearly.
    • could be seen clearly under the microscope
    • She cried loud and clear

WordNet

Clear adjective
Etymology
OE. cler, cleer, OF. cler, F. clair, fr.L. clarus, clear, broght, loud, distinct, renownwd; perh. akin to L. clamare to call, E. claim. Cf. Chanticleer, Clairvoyant, Claret, Clarufy.
Wordforms
comparative Clearer ; superlative Clearest
Definitions
  1. Free from opaqueness; transparent; bright; light; luminous; unclouded.
    The stream is so transparent, pure, and clear. Denham.
    Fair as the moon, clear as the sun. Canticles vi. 10.
  2. Free from ambiquity or indistinctness; lucid; perspicuous; plain; evident; manifest; indubitable.
    One truth is clear; whatever is, is right. Pop.
  3. Able to perceive clearly; keen; acute; penetrating; discriminating; as, a clear intellect; a clear head.
    Mother of science! now I feel thy power Within me clear, not only to discern Things in their causes, but to trace the ways Of highest agents. Milton.
  4. Not clouded with passion; serene; cheerful.
    With a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts. Shak.
  5. Easily or distinctly heard; audible; canorous.
    Hark! the numbers soft and clear Gently steal upon the ear. Pope.
  6. Without mixture; entirely pure; as, clear sand.
  7. Without defect or blemish, such as freckles or knots; as, a clear complexion; clear lumber.
  8. Free from guilt or stain; unblemished.
    Statesman, yet friend to truth! in soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honor clear. Pope.
  9. Without diminution; in full; net; as, clear profit.
    I often wished that I had clear, For life, six hundred pounds a-year. Swift
    .
  10. Free from impediment or obstruction; unobstructed; as, a clear view; to keep clear of debt.
    My companion . . . left the way clear for him. Addison.
  11. Free from embarrassment; detention, etc.
    The cruel corporal whispered in my ear, Five pounds, if rightly tipped, would set me clear. Gay.
    Syn. -- Manifest; pure; unmixed; pellucid; transparent; luminous; obvious; visible; plain; evident; apparent; distinct; perspicuous. See Manifest.
Clear noun
Definitions
  1. (Carp.) Full extent; distance between extreme limits; especially; the distance between the nearest surfaces of two bodies, or the space between walls; as, a room ten feet square in the clear.
Clear adverb
Definitions
  1. In a clear manner; plainly.
    Now clear I understand What oft . . . thoughts have searched in vain. Milton.
  2. Without limitation; wholly; quite; entirely; as, to cut a piece clear off.
Clear transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Cleared ; present participle & verbal noun Clearing
Definitions
  1. To render bright, transparent, or undimmed; to free from clouds.
    He sweeps the skies and clears the cloudy north. Dryden.
  2. To free from impurities; to clarify; to cleanse.
  3. To free from obscurity or ambiguity; to relive of perplexity; to make perspicuous.
    Many knotty points there are Which all discuss, but few can clear. Prior.
  4. To render more quick or acute, as the understanding; to make perspicacious.
    Our common prints would clear up their understandings. Addison
  5. To free from impediment or incumbrance, from defilement, or from anything injurious, useless, or offensive; as, to clear land of trees or brushwood, or from stones; to clear the sight or the voice; to clear one's self from debt; -- often used with of, off, away, or out.
    Clear your mind of cant. Dr. Johnson.
    A statue lies hid in a block of marble; and the art of the statuary only clears away the superfluous matter. Addison.
  6. To free from the imputation of guilt; to justify, vindicate, or acquit; -- often used with from before the thing imputed.
    I . . . am sure he will clear me from partiality. Dryden.
    How! wouldst thou clear rebellion? Addison.
  7. To leap or pass by, or over, without touching or fallure; as, to clear a hedge; to clear a reef.
  8. To gain without deduction; to net.
    The profit which she cleared on the cargo. Macaulay.
Clear intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To become free from clouds or fog; to become fair; -- often fallowed by up, off, or away.
    So foul a sky clears without a strom. Shak.
    Advise him to stay till the weather clears up. Swift.
  2. To disengage one's self frpm incumbrances, distress, or entanglements; to become free.
    He that clears at once will relapse; for finding himself out of straits, he will revert to the customs; but he that cleareth by degrees induceth a habit of frugality. Bacon.
  3. (Banking) To make exchanges of checks and bills, and settle balances, as is done in a clearing house.
  4. To obtain a clearance; as, the steamer cleared for Liverpool to-day.
    To clear out, to go or run away; to depart. Colloq.

Webster 1913