- 1[transitive] to remove something that is not wanted or needed from a place clear something I had cleared my desk before I left. It was several hours before the road was cleared after the accident. It's your turn to clear the table (= to take away the dirty plates, etc. after a meal). She cleared a space on the sofa for him to sit down. clear A (of B) I cleared my desk of papers. The streets had been cleared of snow. clear B (from/off A) Clear all those papers off the desk. The remains of the snow had been cleared from the streets. see also clear away at clear
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- 2[transitive] clear something to make people leave a place After the bomb warning, police cleared the streets.
- 3[intransitive] to move freely again; to no longer be blocked The traffic took a long time to clear after the accident. The boy's lungs cleared and he began to breathe more easily. of sky/weather
- 4[intransitive] when the sky or the weather clears, it becomes brighter and free of cloud or rain The sky cleared after the storm. The rain is clearing slowly. of smoke, etc.
- 5[intransitive] clear (away) when smoke, fog, etc. clears, it disappears so that it is easier to see things The mist will clear by mid-morning. As the dust cleared, we saw that the whole ceiling had come down. of liquid
- 6[intransitive] when a liquid clears, it becomes transparent and you can see through it The muddy water slowly cleared. your head/mind
- 7[intransitive, transitive] if your head or mind clears, or you clear it, you become free of thoughts that worry or confuse you or the effects of alcohol, a blow, etc. and you are able to think clearly As her mind cleared, she remembered what had happened. clear something I went for a walk to clear my head.
- 8[intransitive] if your face or expression clears, you stop looking angry or worried prove someone innocent
- 9[transitive] clear somebody (of something) to prove that someone is innocent She was cleared of all charges against her. Throughout his years in prison, he fought to clear his name. give official permission
- 10[transitive] to give or get official approval for something to be done clear something His appointment had been cleared by the board. clear something with somebody/something I'll have to clear it with the manager.
- 11[transitive] clear something to give official permission for a person, a ship, a plane, or goods to leave or enter a place The plane had been cleared for takeoff. to clear goods through customs
- 12[transitive] clear somebody to decide officially, after finding out information about someone, that they can be given special work or allowed to see secret papers She hasn't been cleared by security.
- 13[intransitive, transitive] clear (something) if a check that you deposit to your bank account clears, or a bank clears it, the money is available for you to use Checks usually take three working days to clear.
- 14[transitive] clear something to gain or earn a sum of money as profit She cleared $1,000 on the deal.
- 15[transitive] clear something if you clear a debt or a loan, you pay all the money back get over/past
- 16[transitive] clear something to jump over or get past something without touching it The horse cleared the fence easily. The car only just cleared (= avoided hitting) the gatepost. in sports
- 17[transitive, intransitive] clear (something) (in soccer and some other sports) if you clear a ball, or a ball clears, it is kicked or hit away from the area near your own goal clear adjective (≠unclear)clearly adverbclarity nounclarify verbIdioms
verb jump to other results
NAmE//klɪr//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they clear he / she / it clears
past simple cleared
-ing form clearing
to help someone start something in a fresh, lively state of mind A brisk walk should blow the cobwebs away.
to improve a difficult or tense situation by talking about worries, doubts, etc.
to prepare for an activity, event, etc. by removing anything that is not essential to it
to cough so that you can speak clearly
to remove things that are stopping the progress or movement of something The ruling could clear the way for extradition proceedings.
there is no danger of being seen or caught As soon as the coast was clear, he climbed in through the window. Phrasal Verbsclear awayclear outclear up
Check pronunciation: clear