English dictionary

clear Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the past tense of clear?

The past tense of clear is cleared. The present participle is clearing.

/ˈklɪə/

What Does Clear Mean?

Clear is used as an adjective meaning Transparent in colour. It is also used to mean Bright; luminous; not dark or obscured. As an adverb, it means All the way; entirely. As a verb, it means To remove obstructions, impediments or other unwanted items from.

Word Facts for Clear

Part of speech	adjective, adverb, verb, noun
Pronunciation	/ˈklɪə/
Synonyms	elucidate, light and distinct
Antonyms	obscure, opaque and overcast
Plural	clears
Comparative / superlative	clearer, clearest
Verb forms	clears, clearing, cleared

Clear Definition (Adjective)

Transparent in colour.
as clear as crystal
Bright; luminous; not dark or obscured.
The windshield was clear and clean.
Free of obstacles.
The driver had mistakenly thought the intersection was clear.
Without clouds.
clear weather; a clear day
Of the sky, such that less than one eighth of its area is obscured by clouds.
Free of ambiguity or doubt; easily understood.
He gave clear instructions not to bother him at work.
Distinct, sharp, well-marked.
Free of guilt, or suspicion.
a clear conscience
Without a thickening ingredient.
Possessing little or no perceptible stimulus.
clear of texture; clear of odor
Free from the influence of engrams; see Clear (Scientology).
Able to perceive straightforwardly; keen; acute; penetrating; discriminating.
a clear intellect; a clear head
Not clouded with passion; serene; cheerful.
Easily or distinctly heard; audible.
Unmixed; entirely pure.
clear sand
Without defects or blemishes, such as freckles or knots.
a clear complexion; clear lumber
Without diminution; in full; net.
a clear profit
Showing a green aspect, allowing a train to proceed past it.
Good, the best.
Nando's is clear.
Better than, superior to.
Spurs are clear of Arsenal.

Clear as an Adverb

All the way; entirely.
I threw it clear across the river to the other side.
Not near something or touching it.
Stand clear of the rails, a train is coming.
Free (or separate) from others.
In a clear manner; plainly.

Clear as a Verb

To remove obstructions, impediments or other unwanted items from.
Police took two hours to clear the road.
To remove (items or material) so as to leave something unobstructed or open.
Please clear all this stuff off the table.
To leave abruptly; to clear off or clear out.
To become free from obstruction or obscurement; to become transparent.
When the road cleared we continued our journey.
To eliminate ambiguity or doubt from (a matter); to clarify or resolve; to clear up.
We need to clear this issue once and for all.
To remove from suspicion, especially of having committed a crime.
The court cleared the man of murder.
To pass without interference; to miss.
The door just barely clears the table as it closes.
To exceed a stated mark.
She was the first female high jumper to clear two metres.
To finish or complete (a stage, challenge, or game).
I cleared the first level in 36 seconds.
Of a check or financial transaction, to go through as payment; to be processed so that the money is transferred.
The check might not clear for a couple of days.
To earn a profit of; to net.
He's been clearing seven thousand a week.
To approve or authorise for a particular purpose or action; to give clearance to.
Air traffic control cleared the plane to land.
To obtain approval or authorisation in respect of.
I've cleared the press release with the marketing department, so go ahead and publish it.
To obtain a clearance.
The steamer cleared for Liverpool today.
To obtain permission to use (a sample of copyrighted audio) in another track.
To disengage oneself from incumbrances, distress, or entanglements; to become free.
To hit, kick, head, punch etc. (a ball, puck) away in order to defend one's goal.
The goalkeeper rushed forward to clear the ball.
To reset or unset; to return to an empty state or to zero.
to clear an array; to clear a single bit (binary digit) in a value
To style (an element within a document) so that it is not permitted to float at a given position.
To unload a firearm, or undergo an unloading procedure, in order to prevent negligent discharge; for safety reasons, to check whether one's firearm is loaded or unloaded.
To prevent any shooting accidents, remember to clear your pistol and stay aware of your surroundings.

Clear as a Noun

Empty or open area.
The deer were standing in the clear.
Full extent; distance between extreme limits; especially; the distance between the nearest surfaces of two bodies, or the space between walls.
a room ten feet square in the clear
The completion of a stage or challenge, or of the whole game.
It took me weeks to achieve a one-credit clear (1CC).
A person who is free from the influence of engrams.

Verb

(activities such as jumping or throwing) To exceed a stated mark.
She was the first female high jumper to clear two metres.

Adjective

Bright, not dark or obscured.
Congress passed the President’s Clear Skies legislation.
Free of ambiguity or doubt.
Do I make myself clear? Crystal clear.
(of a soup) Without a thickening ingredient.
Able to perceive clearly; keen; acute; penetrating; discriminating.
a clear intellect; a clear head

Antonyms of Clear

obscure opaque overcast bounce blur cloudy unclear confuse cloud ill-defined clutter up clutter convict thick turbid nebulous

Clear in a Sentence

as clear as crystal

The windshield was clear and clean.

Congress passed the President’s Clear Skies legislation.

The driver had mistakenly thought the intersection was clear.

the coast is clear

clear weather; a clear day

He gave clear instructions not to bother him at work.

She made it clear that she dislike me.

I'm still not quite clear on what some of these words mean.

a clear conscience

clear of texture; clear of odor

a clear intellect; a clear head

clear sand

a clear complexion; clear lumber

a clear profit

Nando's is clear.

Spurs are clear of Arsenal.

I threw it clear across the river to the other side.

Stand clear of the rails, a train is coming.

Police took two hours to clear the road.

If you clear the table, I'll wash up.

Please clear all this stuff off the table.

The loggers came and cleared the trees.

When the road cleared we continued our journey.

After a heavy rain, the sky cleared nicely for the evening.

Shake the test tube well, and the liquid should slowly clear.

We need to clear this issue once and for all.

The court cleared the man of murder.

The door just barely clears the table as it closes.

The leaping horse easily cleared the hurdles.

If we stay on this course we should clear the buoy.

She was the first female high jumper to clear two metres.

I cleared the first level in 36 seconds.

The check might not clear for a couple of days.

He's been clearing seven thousand a week.

Air traffic control cleared the plane to land.

The marketing department has cleared the press release for publication.

I've cleared the press release with the marketing department, so go ahead and publish it.

The plane has been cleared for landing.

The steamer cleared for Liverpool today.

The goalkeeper rushed forward to clear the ball.

A low cross came in, and Smith cleared.

to clear an array; to clear a single bit (binary digit) in a value

To prevent any shooting accidents, remember to clear your pistol and stay aware of your surroundings.

The deer were standing in the clear.

a room ten feet square in the clear

It took me weeks to achieve a one-credit clear (1CC).

The coast is clear.

Do I make myself clear? Crystal clear.

Word Forms & Grammar

clear (comparative clearer, superlative clearest)

clear (not comparable)

clear (third-person singular simple present clears, present participle clearing, simple past and past participle cleared)

clear (plural clears)

Words That Rhyme With Clear

austere sneer jeer cavalier severe peer queer premier chevalier insincere adhere steer cheer persevere atmosphere appear shear sphere commandeer near veer smear tear spear rear cohere unclear interfere pier veneer

Origin of Clear

From Middle English clere, from Anglo-Norman cler, from Old French cler (Modern French clair), from Latin clarus. Displaced native Middle English schir (“clear, pure”) (from Old English scīr (“clear, bright”)), Middle English skere (“clear, sheer”) (from Old English scǣre and Old Norse skǣr (“sheer, clear, pure”)), Middle English smolt (“clear (of mind), serene”) (from Old English smolt (“peaceful, serene”)). Cognate with Danish, German, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish klar, Dutch klaar, French clair, Italian chiaro, Portuguese claro, Romanian clar, Spanish claro.

Quick Answers About Clear

Is clear an adjective or an adverb?

Clear is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as an adverb, a verb and a noun.

What is another word for clear?

Words with a similar meaning to clear include elucidate, light and distinct. See the full list of clear synonyms and antonyms.