Word
clarifying
Phoneticsclar·i·fy·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɫɛɹəˌfaɪɪŋ/
UK/klˈæɹɪfˌaɪɪŋ/
Definition
adj. making something easier to understand by removing confusion. You use this to describe a comment or action that makes a situation clear.
adj. serving to make a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible. Often used as a participial adjective following a linking verb or preceding a noun.
Examples
“The teacher gave a clarifying explanation of the rule.”
“After the confusing meeting, the manager sent a clarifying email to ensure everyone understood their new tasks.”
“The witness provided several clarifying details that helped the jury reconcile the conflicting accounts of the incident.”
Examples
simple
“The teacher gave a clarifying explanation of the rule.”
contextual
“After the confusing meeting, the manager sent a clarifying email to ensure everyone understood their new tasks.”
complex
“The witness provided several clarifying details that helped the jury reconcile the conflicting accounts of the incident.”
Usage
Typically used as an adjective to describe speech, writing, or questions. When used as a verb form, it is the present participle of 'clarify'.
Real-World Examples
“Chaim Goodman-Strauss, a mathematician involved in the hat-tile finding, found the paper so tedious that he published his own paper clarifying the work, also on the arXiv preprint server.” “This is slightly different from dating specifically to find a partner, because when the focus is on building something long-term you have to have clarifying conversations along the way about where things are going.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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