# clearing

/ˈkɫɪɹɪŋ/ (US) · /klˈiəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clearing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. open space in a forest

noun · CEFR B2

a small area of land in a forest or woods that has no trees.

For teachers: a tract of land within a wood or forest that is devoid of trees.

- We found a sunny clearing in the middle of the woods and decided to have our picnic there.
- The hikers emerged from the dense undergrowth into a wide clearing, where the sunlight finally reached the forest floor.

### 2. financial settlement

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the process where banks exchange information to complete payments and settle debts.

For teachers: the procedure by which financial institutions settle mutual claims and exchange payment information through a central system.

- The bank handles the clearing of thousands of cheques every day.
- The central bank introduced a new automated clearing system to reduce the time required for international wire transfers to settle.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun or as a modifier in 'clearing house'.

### 3. university admissions

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a system in the UK where students can find available places at a university if they do not have an offer.

For teachers: the process in the United Kingdom by which unplaced applicants are matched with remaining university vacancies before the academic year begins.

- He didn't get the grades he needed for his first choice, so he found a place through clearing.
- During the busy clearing period in August, university phone lines are staffed by advisors helping students navigate their remaining options.

Teaching tip: This is a specific cultural term for the UK higher education system; learners in the US would use 'rolling admissions' or 'late registration' for similar concepts.

### 4. removing an obstacle

noun · CEFR B2

the act of making a space empty or removing things that are in the way.

For teachers: the act or process of removing obstructions or unwanted items from a specific area.

- The clearing of the snow from the roads took several hours after the storm.
- The council ordered the immediate clearing of the site to ensure that construction could begin on schedule.

## Examples

- We set up our tent in a small clearing near the river.
- The hikers finally reached a sunny clearing where they could see the mountain peak through the trees.
- Sunlight flooded the forest floor in the sudden clearing, illuminating a patch of wildflowers that could not survive under the dense canopy of the surrounding oaks.

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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.