clear

/ˈklɪər/
/klɪə/
IPA guide

Other forms: cleared; clearing; clearer; clearest; clears

Clear means clean and uncluttered, without distractions or confusion. If your explanation of relativity is clear, it's easy to understand. If the sky’s clear, there isn't a cloud to be seen.

As a verb, clear implies getting rid of obstacles. You can clear your head (get rid of anxiety and upsetting thoughts); clear the way (remove obstacles in your path); or clear the trees to make a clearing where you can pitch your tent. If you own your car "free and clear," it's all yours — you don't owe anything on it. When you arrive in a country, you clear customs when officials check your papers and belongings and send you on your way.

Definitions of clear
  1. 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”
    synonyms:
    unambiguous
    having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning
    broad, unsubtle
    lacking subtlety; obvious
    clear-cut, distinct, trenchant
    clearly or sharply defined to the mind
    crystal clear, limpid, lucid, luculent, pellucid, perspicuous
    (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable
    prima facie
    as it seems at first sight
    unmistakable
    clearly evident to the mind
    vivid
    having the clarity and freshness of immediate experience
    comprehendible, comprehensible
    capable of being comprehended or understood
    definite
    precise; explicit and clearly defined
    distinct
    easy to perceive; especially clearly outlined
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    antonyms:
    unclear
    not clear to the mind
    ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
    blurred, clouded
    unclear in form or expression
    confusing, perplexing, puzzling
    lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity
    murky, obscure, vague
    not clearly understood or expressed
    opaque
    not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy; impenetrable to sight
    incomprehensible, uncomprehensible
    difficult to understand
    indefinite
    vague or not clearly defined or stated
    indistinct
    not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand
    show more antonyms...
  2. adjective
    clear and distinct to the senses; easily perceptible
    “as clear as a whistle”
    “clear footprints in the snow”
    “the letter brought back a clear image of his grandfather”
    “a clear-cut pattern”
    synonyms: clean-cut, clear-cut
    distinct
    easy to perceive; especially clearly outlined
  3. adjective
    easily deciphered
    synonyms: decipherable, readable
    legible
    (of handwriting, print, etc.) capable of being read or deciphered
  4. adjective
    accurately stated or described
    synonyms: well-defined
  5. adjective
    free from confusion or doubt
    “a complex problem requiring a clear head”
    “not clear about what is expected of us”
    synonyms:
    clear-thinking, clearheaded
    not mentally confused; able to think clearly and act intelligently
  6. adjective
    characterized by ease and quickness in perceiving
    “clear mind”
    synonyms: percipient
    discerning
    having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
  7. adjective
    characterized by freedom from troubling thoughts (especially guilt)
    “a clear conscience”
    “regarded her questioner with clear untroubled eyes”
    synonyms:
    untroubled
    not beset by troubles or disturbance or distress
  8. adjective
    freed from any question of guilt
    “was now clear of the charge of cowardice”
    synonyms: absolved, cleared, exculpated, exonerated, vindicated
    clean-handed, guiltless, innocent
    free from evil or guilt
  9. adjective
    affording free passage or view
    “a clear view”
    “a clear path to victory”
    synonyms: open
    unobstructed
    free from impediment or obstruction or hindrance
  10. adjective
    allowing light to pass through
    “clear water”
    “clear plastic bags”
    “clear glass”
    “the air is clear and clean”
    synonyms:
    crystal clear, crystalline, limpid, lucid, pellucid, transparent
    transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
    hyaline, hyaloid
    resembling glass in transparency or translucency
    limpid, liquid
    clear and bright
    semitransparent, translucent
    allowing light to pass through diffusely
    unclouded
    not made opaque or cloudy by sediment
    unfrosted
    (of glass) lacking a frosted coating
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    antonyms:
    opaque
    not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy; impenetrable to sight
    unclear
    not clear to the mind
    cloudy, mirky, muddy, murky, turbid
    (of liquids) clouded as with sediment
    fogged, foggy
    obscured by fog
    frosted
    (of glass) having a roughened coating resembling frost
    glaucous
    having a frosted look from a powdery coating, as on plants
    light-tight, lightproof
    not penetrable by light
    milklike, milky, whitish
    resembling milk in color not clear
    semiopaque
    partially opaque
    solid
    impenetrable for the eye
    show more antonyms...
  11. adjective
    free from clouds or mist or haze
    “on a clear day”
    synonyms:
    cloudless, unclouded
    free from clouds
    fair
    free of clouds or rain
    serene
    completely clear and fine
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    cloudy
    full of or covered with clouds
    brumous, foggy, hazy, misty
    filled or abounding with fog or mist
    fogbound
    enveloped in fog
    cloud-covered, clouded, overcast, sunless
    filled or abounding with clouds
    cloudlike, nebular
    resembling a cloud
    dull, leaden
    darkened with overcast
    heavy, lowering, sullen, threatening
    darkened by clouds
    miasmal, miasmic, vaporous, vapourous
    filled with vapor
    smoggy
    clouded with a mixture of smoke and fog
    show more antonyms...
  12. adjective
    free of restrictions or qualifications
    “a clear winner”
    synonyms: clean
    unqualified
    not limited or restricted
  13. adjective
    free from contact or proximity or connection
    “we were clear of the danger”
    “the ship was clear of the reef”
    synonyms:
    free
    able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint
  14. adjective
    clear of charges or deductions
    “a clear profit”
    synonyms:
    net, nett
    remaining after all deductions
  15. adjective
    (especially of a title) free from any encumbrance or limitation that presents a question of fact or law
    “I have clear title to this property”
    synonyms: unmortgaged
    unencumbered
    free of encumbrance
  16. adjective
    free from flaw or blemish or impurity
    “a clear perfect diamond”
    “the clear complexion of a healthy young woman”
    synonyms:
    perfect
    being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
  17. adjective
    (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
    “clear laughter like a waterfall”
    “clear reds and blues”
    synonyms: clean, light, unclouded
    pure
    free of extraneous elements of any kind
  18. verb
    rid of obstructions
    “Clear your desk”
    synonyms: unclutter
    see moresee less
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
  19. verb
    make a way or path by removing objects
    “Clear a path through the dense forest”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    create, make
    make or cause to be or to become
  20. verb
    remove
    “clear the leaves from the lawn”
    “Clear snow from the road”
    synonyms:
    unclutter
    rid of obstructions
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 6 types...
    hide 6 types...
    bare, denudate, denude, strip
    lay bare
    clear-cut
    remove all the trees at one time
    stump
    remove tree stumps from
    deforest, disafforest, disforest
    remove the trees from
    defoliate
    strip the leaves or branches from
    burn off
    clear land of its vegetation by burning it off
    type of:
    remove, take, take away, withdraw
    remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
  21. verb
    rid of instructions or data
    “clear a memory buffer”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    empty
    make void or empty of contents
  22. verb
    make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
    “Clear up the question of who is at fault”
    synonyms: clear up, crystalise, crystalize, crystallise, crystallize, elucidate, enlighten, illuminate, shed light on, sort out, straighten out
    see moresee less
    type of:
    clarify, clear up, elucidate
    make clear and (more) comprehensible
  23. verb
    clear from impurities, blemishes, pollution, etc.
    “clear the water before it can be drunk”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    disembarrass, free, rid
    relieve from
  24. verb
    make clear, bright, light, or translucent
    “The water had to be cleared through filtering”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
  25. verb
    become clear
    “The sky cleared after the storm”
    synonyms: brighten, clear up, light up
  26. verb
    grant authorization or clearance for
    “Clear the manuscript for publication”
    synonyms: authorise, authorize, pass
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 17 types...
    hide 17 types...
    approbate
    approve or sanction officially
    certificate
    authorize by certificate
    O.K., approve, okay, sanction
    give sanction to
    declare
    authorize payments of
    certify, licence, license
    authorize officially
    commission
    charge with a task
    formalise, formalize, validate
    declare or make legally valid
    sanction
    give religious sanction to, such as through on oath
    visa
    approve officially
    franchise
    grant a franchise to
    charter
    grant a charter to
    back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
    be behind; approve of
    ratify, sign
    approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
    co-sign, cosign
    sign jointly
    probate
    establish the legal validity of (wills and other documents)
    accredit, recognise, recognize
    grant credentials to
    confirm
    support a person for a position
    type of:
    allow, countenance, let, permit
    consent to, give permission
  27. verb
    pass an inspection or receive authorization
    “clear customs”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    pass
    go unchallenged; be approved
  28. verb
    go unchallenged; be approved
    “The bill cleared the House”
    synonyms: pass
    see moresee less
    type of:
    bring home the bacon, come through, deliver the goods, succeed, win
    attain success or reach a desired goal
  29. verb
    go away or disappear
    “The fog cleared in the afternoon”
    synonyms: dissipate
    see moresee less
    type of:
    disappear, go away, vanish
    become invisible or unnoticeable
  30. verb
    pass by, over, or under without making contact
    “the balloon cleared the tree tops”
    synonyms: top
    see moresee less
    types:
    hop
    jump across
    type of:
    overhaul, overtake, pass
    travel past
  31. verb
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
    “The suspect was cleared of the murder charges”
    synonyms: acquit, assoil, discharge, exculpate, exonerate
    see moresee less
    types:
    vindicate
    clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting proof
    whitewash
    exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data
    purge
    clear of a charge
    type of:
    judge, label, pronounce
    pronounce judgment on
  32. verb
    remove (people) from a building
    see moresee less
    type of:
    move out, remove, take out
    cause to leave
  33. verb
    remove the occupants of
    “Clear the building”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    empty
    make void or empty of contents
  34. verb
    free (the throat) by making a rasping sound
    “Clear the throat”
    synonyms: clear up
    see moresee less
    type of:
    remove, take, take away, withdraw
    remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
  35. noun
    the state of being free of suspicion
    “investigation showed that he was in the clear”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    innocence
    a state or condition of being innocent of a specific crime or offense
  36. noun
    a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
    synonyms: open
    see moresee less
    type of:
    area, country
    a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
  37. adverb
    in an easily perceptible manner
    “She cried loud and clear”
    synonyms: clearly
  38. adverb
    completely
    “read the book clear to the end”
    “slept clear through the night”
    “there were open fields clear to the horizon”
    synonyms: all the way
  39. verb
    earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
    “He clears $5,000 each month”
    synonyms: bring in, earn, gain, make, pull in, realise, realize, take in
    make
    act in a certain way so as to acquire
    net, sack, sack up
    make as a net profit
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    types:
    show 13 types...
    hide 13 types...
    eke out, squeeze out
    make by laborious and precarious means
    profit, turn a profit
    make a profit; gain money or materially
    rake off
    take money from an illegal transaction
    bring home, take home
    earn as a salary or wage
    rake in, shovel in
    earn large sums of money
    gross
    earn before taxes, expenses, etc.
    bear, pay, yield
    bring in
    line one's pockets
    make a lot of money
    turn a nice dime, turn a nice dollar, turn a nice penny
    make a satisfactory profit
    clean up
    make a big profit; often in a short period of time
    net
    yield as a net profit
    pay off
    yield a profit or result
    monetize
    use something as a source of income or profit
    type of:
    acquire, get
    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
  40. verb
    yield as a net profit
    synonyms: net
    net, sack, sack up
    make as a net profit
    see moresee less
    type of:
    bear, pay, yield
    bring in
  41. verb
    make as a net profit
    “The company cleared $1 million”
    synonyms: net, sack, sack up
    bring in, earn, gain, make, pull in, realise, realize, take in
    earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
    net
    yield as a net profit
    see moresee less
    type of:
    benefit, gain, profit
    derive a benefit from
  42. verb
    sell
    “We cleared a lot of the old model cars”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    sell
    exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
  43. verb
    settle, as of a debt
    “clear a debt”
    synonyms: solve
    see moresee less
    type of:
    determine, settle, square off, square up
    settle conclusively; come to terms
  44. verb
    free from payment of customs duties, as of a shipment
    “Clear the ship and let it dock”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    discharge, free
    free from obligations or duties
  45. verb
    be debited and credited to the proper bank accounts
    “The check will clear within 2 business days”
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    bounce
    come back after being refused
    bounce
    refuse to accept and send back
    show more antonyms...
Pronunciation
US
/ˈklɪər/
UK
/klɪə/
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