# clear /ˈkɫɪɹ/ (US) · /klˈiə/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clear Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. see-through adjective · CEFR A2 easy to see through, like glass or clean water. For teachers: transparent or translucent; allowing light to pass through without significant diffusion. - The water in the mountain lake was so clear that I could see the fish at the bottom. - The architect specified clear tempered glass for the atrium to ensure that the internal structure remained visible from the street. ### 2. easy to understand adjective · CEFR A2 easy to understand or hear without any confusion. For teachers: free from ambiguity, uncertainty, or obscurity; easily perceived by the mind or the senses. - The teacher gave us clear instructions on how to finish the project. - Despite the technical nature of the subject, the speaker provided a clear and concise overview that resonated with the non-specialist audience. ### 3. empty or open adjective · CEFR B1 not blocked by anything; having no obstacles in the way. For teachers: free from obstructions, clouds, or unwanted items. - The road was clear of traffic, so we arrived at the airport early. - Once the storm passed, the sky remained clear for the rest of the week, allowing the rescue teams to operate without delay. Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of'. ### 4. to remove things verb · CEFR A2 to take away things that are not wanted or are blocking a space. For teachers: to remove obstructions or unwanted items from a surface or area. - Please clear the table so we can start our board game. - The maintenance crew worked through the night to clear the fallen trees from the main highway before the morning rush hour. Usage: Transitive verb taking a direct object. ### 5. to approve verb · CEFR B2 · Formal to give official permission for something to happen. For teachers: to give official authorisation or approval to a person, document, or action. - The doctor cleared him to play sports again after his injury. - The security committee refused to clear the shipment until all the paperwork had been verified by the customs office. ### 6. to pass over verb · CEFR B2 to jump over or go past something without touching it. For teachers: to pass over or by something without making contact. - The horse cleared the final fence easily and won the race. - The aircraft barely cleared the mountain peaks as it struggled to gain altitude in the thin air. ### 7. to defend in sports verb · CEFR B1 to kick or hit a ball away from your own goal to stop the other team from scoring. For teachers: to hit, kick, or throw a ball or puck away from the goal area as a defensive move. - The defender cleared the ball out of the penalty area just in time. - Under heavy pressure from the opposing strikers, the goalkeeper managed to clear the ball toward the halfway line. ### 8. to reset verb · CEFR B1 to empty a screen or memory, or to set a number back to zero. For teachers: to return a device or data field to an empty or initial state. - Press the red button to clear the calculator screen. - The system administrator had to clear the cache before the new website updates would appear correctly for the users. ### 9. completely adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal all the way to a certain place or through a certain distance. For teachers: completely or entirely; used to emphasise distance or separation. - You can see the mountains clear from the other side of the city. - The bullet went clear through the wooden fence and lodged itself in the tree behind it. Teaching tip: Often used in the phrase 'clear through' or 'clear to'. ### 10. open space noun · CEFR B2 · Informal an open area or a state of being free from danger. For teachers: an unobstructed space or a state of being free from suspicion or danger. - Once we were in the clear, we stopped running and caught our breath. - The investigation found no evidence of fraud, so the company is finally in the clear regarding the tax audit. Usage: Almost exclusively used in the idiomatic phrase 'in the clear'. ## Examples - The instructions are very clear. - From the top of the hill, we had a clear view of the entire valley. - It became clear during the debate that the candidate had no practical solution for the economic crisis, despite his confident rhetoric. --- 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.