# clear out

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clear-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to remove things you do not need from a place to make it tidy.

For teachers: to empty a space or container by removing its contents, typically to organize it or dispose of unwanted items.

## Examples

- I need to clear out my closet this weekend.
- After living in the same house for twenty years, they spent weeks clearing out the attic before moving.
- The new manager decided to clear out the old files to make room for the digital archiving system.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I cleared out it." but "I cleared it out." — when the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- often used with rooms, cupboards, or drawers as the object.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'clean up' (which focuses on dirt/mess) and 'tidy up' (which focuses on order); 'clear out' specifically implies removal of items to create empty space.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.