clear
clear — verb
- clearpresent simple I / you / we / they
- clears3rd person singular
- clearing-ing form
- clearedpast simple
1. to remove whatever is blocking a pipe, road, or passage so that things or people
to remove whatever is blocking a pipe, road, or passage so that things or people can move through freely again
Liang used a shovel to clear the snow from the driveway before the guests arrived.
clear + object + from [location]
The plumber will come tomorrow to clear the blocked kitchen drain.
After the concert, it took an hour for the crowd to clear from the hall.
The hospital staff cleared the emergency exit so the stretcher could pass through.
- block
to fill or obstruct a passage
文法句型
clear + object (pipe, road, sink, snow)
clear + away/off/out
用法筆記
Frequently used with a direct object naming the blocked item or the blocking substance. The intransitive form describes the blockage disappearing by itself.
常見錯誤
2. to give a short, deliberate cough to make your throat feel less blocked or scrat
to give a short, deliberate cough to make your throat feel less blocked or scratchy, often before speaking
Adina cleared her throat and began reading the poem to the class.
The speaker cleared his throat loudly before stepping up to the microphone.
clear + possessive + throat — fixed collocation
Anong cleared her throat twice during the meeting to signal that she wanted to speak.
The old man cleared his throat and spat into a handkerchief.
- cough
usually louder and more forceful; not specifically to prepare to speak
文法句型
clear + possessive + throat
用法筆記
This sense always takes a possessive determiner before 'throat' (clear your throat, cleared his throat). The action is a small cough, not a full cough or throat-clearing that draws negative attention.
常見錯誤
3. to show in a legal proceeding that the charges brought against a person are fals
to show in a legal proceeding that the charges brought against a person are false and the person is innocent
The court cleared Dr. Vivek of all charges after the witnesses changed their stories.
clear + person + of + charge — legal pattern
Ryan was cleared of wrongdoing by the internal investigation committee.
passive: be cleared of [accusation]
Her lawyer worked for three years to clear her name and restore her reputation.
The police cleared the officer after reviewing the security camera footage.
文法句型
clear + person + of + accusation/noun
be cleared of [charge]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive (was cleared). The object is typically a person or their name/reputation, followed by 'of' and the accusation. The phrase 'clear one's name' is a fixed idiom meaning to prove one is not guilty.
常見錯誤
4. to formally allow a planned action to move forward, after checking that conditio
to formally allow a planned action to move forward, after checking that conditions are met or safety rules are satisfied
The air traffic controller cleared the plane for takeoff at six o'clock.
clear + aircraft + for + action — aviation context
Ignacio's manager cleared his vacation request after checking the team schedule.
You need to clear any large purchases with the finance department first.
The newspaper editor cleared the story for publication after a fact check.
文法句型
clear + object (plan, article, payment, flight)
clear + object + for + purpose
clear + object + with + person
用法筆記
The person giving permission is typically an authority figure or institution. The pattern 'clear something with someone' means asking for and receiving that person's approval before acting.
常見錯誤
5. to pass a customs or security check so that goods, luggage, or people are allowe
to pass a customs or security check so that goods, luggage, or people are allowed to enter or leave a country or controlled area
The shipment of medical supplies cleared customs in under three hours.
intransitive: goods clear customs — common trade usage
Christopher's luggage was cleared by the security team before he boarded the flight.
passive: luggage/items are cleared by officials
The export company needs to clear all its products through the port authority before shipping.
The diplomat's car was waved through without having to clear the border checkpoint.
- pass through
less formal; describes moving through a checkpoint without the official approval meaning
- confiscate
when goods are seized instead of being cleared
文法句型
clear + customs/inspection
clear + goods + through + checkpoint
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (GIVE PERMISSION): this sense is specifically about passing a physical checkpoint or inspection process, rather than receiving general permission. Often used for international trade and travel contexts.
6. when the sky or weather becomes bright and free from clouds, rain, or fog; or wh
when the sky or weather becomes bright and free from clouds, rain, or fog; or when a liquid becomes transparent again after being cloudy
The sky cleared after the storm passed, and the stars came out one by one.
intransitive: the sky/weather clears — weather context
Zola waited for the fog to clear before driving home from work.
Leave the muddy water in the jar overnight so it can clear on its own.
The sky began to clear just as the hikers reached the mountain top.
- cloud over
when the sky becomes covered with clouds
- darken
when the sky becomes darker
文法句型
the sky/weather clears
the liquid/water clears
clear + object (the sky, the water)
用法筆記
This sense is almost always intransitive when describing weather (the sky clears). The transitive form is rarer and usually describes making a liquid clear (add a chemical to clear the water).
常見錯誤
7. to free your mind from jumbled or foggy thoughts so you can think in a sharper,
to free your mind from jumbled or foggy thoughts so you can think in a sharper, more focused way
Ayesha took a short walk to clear her mind before the big exam.
collocation: clear your mind / clear your head
Luca did some deep breathing to clear his thoughts and focus on the presentation.
Naoko found that writing down her worries helped clear her head and reduce stress.
Christopher stepped away from his computer to clear his thoughts before replying to the email.
文法句型
clear + object (mind/thoughts/head)
用法筆記
Object is usually a noun related to the mind: mind, head, thoughts. This sense is frequently used with reflexive possessive determiners (my mind, his head, her thoughts).
常見錯誤
8. to pay back every cent of a debt or financial obligation so that nothing remains
to pay back every cent of a debt or financial obligation so that nothing remains owed
The Zhang family finally cleared their mortgage after fifteen years of monthly payments.
collocation: clear a mortgage / clear a debt / clear a loan
Asher sold his old car to clear the outstanding loan at the bank.
Zuri used her year-end bonus to clear her credit card debt entirely.
Dewi took on extra shifts at the hospital to clear the remaining student loan.
文法句型
clear + object (debt/loan/mortgage)
用法筆記
Strongly associated with financial contexts. The object is always a type of debt: mortgage, loan, debt, overdraft. Frequently used with adverbs such as 'entirely', 'fully', 'completely' to emphasize finality.
常見錯誤
9. to keep a certain sum of money once all costs, taxes, or other required deductio
to keep a certain sum of money once all costs, taxes, or other required deductions have been subtracted from what you earned
After rent and bills, Dewi clears about five hundred dollars each month.
pattern: clear + amount + time period
The shop clears roughly two thousand dollars a week after paying staff and suppliers.
After expenses, each freelance project clears Mateo around three hundred dollars.
Eleni's catering business clears about four thousand dollars a month during wedding season.
文法句型
clear + amount + (after/before deductions)
用法筆記
This sense is almost exclusively used in financial or business contexts. The subject is typically a person or business, and the object is a monetary amount. Often includes a phrase specifying what is subtracted: 'after tax', 'after expenses', 'after costs'.
常見錯誤
10. to process a cheque through the banking system so that the money recorded on it
to process a cheque through the banking system so that the money recorded on it moves from the payer's account to the payee's account
It took three business days for the cheque to clear at the bank.
intransitive: cheque + clears + time period
Hui deposited the cheque on Monday, but the bank did not clear it until Thursday.
transitive: bank + clears + cheque
The estate agent said we could move in as soon as the rent cheque cleared.
Ayesha asked the teller how long it would take for the traveller's cheques to clear.
- go through
informal phrasal verb
- bounce
when a cheque fails to clear due to insufficient funds
文法句型
clear + object (cheque)
cheque + clears + (time period)
用法筆記
Common in British and Australian English. In American English, 'check' is the spelling. Can be used both transitively (the bank clears the cheque) and intransitively (the cheque clears). Typical clearing time is 2-5 business days.
常見錯誤
11. to pass above, below, or through an opening without touching the edges or surfac
to pass above, below, or through an opening without touching the edges or surfaces beside it
The bay horse cleared the fence easily and galloped on across the field.
pattern: clear + obstacle (fence/wall/bar)
Kian tried to clear the high-jump bar but knocked it down with his heel.
The cat cleared the gap between the two rooftops in a single leap.
The athlete cleared every hurdle cleanly during the race.
- hit
to make contact with the obstacle
- knock down
to fail to clear and bring the obstacle down
文法句型
clear + object (obstacle/bar/fence/gap)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in sporting or physical contexts — horse riding (show jumping), athletics (high jump, hurdles), and descriptions of animal movement. The object is always a physical obstacle: fence, bar, wall, hurdle, gap.
常見錯誤
clear — noun
1. an area or space that is not filled, covered, or blocked by anything — for examp
an area or space that is not filled, covered, or blocked by anything — for example, a part of a table with no objects on it, or a stretch of ground with no trees or buildings
Ari pushed the books aside, leaving a clear on the desk for the laptop.
noun: clear space on a surface
The dense fog lifted, and the boat sailed into the clear.
in(to) the clear — unobstructed water
Naoko found a clear in the busy market and set up her stall there.
After shovelling the heavy snow, Erik admired the clear he had made on the driveway.
The deer ran through the thick forest until it reached a clear by the riverbank.
文法句型
in(to) the clear
a clear + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used with the definite article in the fixed phrase 'in the clear', which can refer to either a physical unobstructed space or (idiomatically) a situation free from danger or difficulty.
clear — adjective
- clearpositive
- clearercomparative
- clearestsuperlative
1. expressed or presented in a way that is simple to follow, with nothing confusing
expressed or presented in a way that is simple to follow, with nothing confusing or hard to make out when you listen, read, or look.
The teacher gave us a clear explanation of the math problem.
clear + noun (explanation, instructions, writing)
Yumi's voice was clear on the phone even though she called from a different country.
The road signs are big and clear, so drivers can read them at night.
Adina wrote a clear letter to explain why she had to leave early.
Is my handwriting clear enough for you to read without trouble?
- understandable
focuses on the listener's ability to grasp meaning, slightly more formal than clear
- plain
emphasises simplicity and lack of decoration or complexity
- legible
only about written or printed text that is easy to read
- distinct
stresses that each part can be told apart from others, often used for sounds
文法句型
clear + noun
be + clear
make + noun + clear
用法筆記
Commonly used with nouns related to communication: explanation, instructions, message, signal, picture, voice, sound.
常見錯誤
2. used when you want to stress that your statement is definitely true, or to show
used when you want to stress that your statement is definitely true, or to show that you expect your instruction to be followed without question.
It is clear that we need more time to finish building the house.
it is clear + that-clause for emphasis
Let me make it clear — I will not accept any work turned in late.
make it clear + statement of authority
Let me make myself perfectly clear: this behaviour will not be tolerated in my classroom.
Diya made it clear that she wanted to finish the project on her own.
Clear? Everyone knows what they need to do by Friday.
文法句型
it is clear (that)...
make it clear (that)...
make + object + clear
clear?
用法筆記
This sense is mostly used in fixed expressions. 'Make it clear that…' is the most common pattern. Unlike sense 1, it does not describe the quality of a thing (a clear voice); it adds speaker force to a whole statement. 'Clear?' used alone at the end of a sentence is informal.
常見錯誤
3. having no doubt about the truth of something, because the facts you have are str
having no doubt about the truth of something, because the facts you have are strong enough to leave no question in your mind.
I am not clear about why Professor Osei changed the exam date.
not clear + about + question word for uncertainty
The doctor was clear that the test showed no signs of illness.
be + clear + that-clause expressing certainty
Are you clear on what you need to prepare for the presentation?
Valentina felt clear in her own mind about which university to choose.
The report makes it clear that sales have fallen for three months in a row.
文法句型
be + clear + about/on + noun/question word
be + clear + (that) + clause
be + clear + that-clause for certainty
用法筆記
Frequently used in the negative ('not clear about/on') to express uncertainty. 'Make it clear that…' here overlaps with sense 2 — the difference is that in sense 3 the focus is on a factual conclusion (the evidence shows something), while in sense 2 the focus is on the speaker's authority. Sense 3 also takes question-word clauses ('what', 'why', 'where').
常見錯誤
4. made of material that does not block your view of what lies behind it, with no d
made of material that does not block your view of what lies behind it, with no dirty marks or cloudy areas that spoil its openness.
The mountain lake water was so clear we saw fish swimming near the bottom.
so + clear + that-clause for degree
Pedro poured the juice into a clear glass so everyone could see the colour.
The diamond was perfectly clear with no visible marks inside it.
We replaced the old yellow plastic with a sheet of clear acrylic.
The ice on the pond was clear enough to see the leaves trapped underneath.
- transparent
more formal and scientific; 'clear' is the everyday word
- see-through
informal, often used for clothing or thin fabric
- limpid
poetic or literary, usually for liquids; rare in everyday speech
文法句型
clear + noun (transparent object)
be + clear
用法筆記
Describes the physical property of a material (glass, water, plastic, gemstone). Do not confuse with 'clean' — clean things may still be opaque (a clean white shirt). 'Clear' always implies transparency.
常見錯誤
5. with nothing in the sky such as clouds or mist to block your view, so that the s
with nothing in the sky such as clouds or mist to block your view, so that the sun, moon, or stars are fully visible.
On a clear night you can see thousands of stars above the desert.
clear + noun (night, sky, day) for weather
The sky was clear and the sun felt warm on our faces all afternoon.
After the storm passed, the sky turned clear and bright blue.
Minho looked up at the clear sky and decided it was perfect for a hike.
The weather app says tomorrow will be clear with no chance of rain.
文法句型
clear + noun (sky/night/weather/day)
be + clear
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively for weather, sky, and conditions that affect visibility outdoors. Cannot describe indoor transparency — that is sense 4. 'Clear' as a weather forecast term means no rain or heavy clouds.
常見錯誤
6. having a pure, ringing quality that is easy and pleasant to listen to, with no r
having a pure, ringing quality that is easy and pleasant to listen to, with no roughness, crackling, or unwanted noise mixed in.
The singer's voice was clear and beautiful in the quiet concert hall.
clear + voice/sound describing audio purity
Karim heard the clear sound of a bell ringing from the village church.
The radio signal is not clear today because of the storm in the area.
Ezra loves the clear sound of rain falling on the metal roof at night.
The phone line was clear, so we could talk without repeating ourselves.
文法句型
clear + noun (sound/voice/note/bell)
be + clear
用法筆記
Commonly used for voices, musical instruments, phone lines, and audio recordings. For a phone call, 'the line is clear' means you can hear the other person without static or cutting out.
常見錯誤
7. easy to remember because the image, sound, or feeling is strong and detailed in
easy to remember because the image, sound, or feeling is strong and detailed in your mind.
Dahlia still has a clear memory of her first day at school.
collocation: clear memory of [something]
The old photograph gave Faisal a clear picture of his grandmother's face.
Jisoo's clear recollection of the event helped the police build their case.
Even after twenty years, Ife had a clear image of the mountain from her window.
The song brought back a clear memory of Dario's childhood summers by the sea.
文法句型
clear + noun (memory, recollection, picture, image)
8. with nothing covering or blocking the way, so that people or things can move or
with nothing covering or blocking the way, so that people or things can move or be seen freely.
The road was clear after the snowplough drove through the town.
collocation: clear road / clear path
Apinya kept a clear space on her desk for her laptop and notebook.
The view from the hilltop was clear because the builders removed the old fence.
Lucía checked that the path to the front door was clear of fallen leaves.
With the curtains pulled back, the window gave a clear line to the garden.
- unobstructed
more formal; common in written descriptions of views or routes
- open
suggests a wide, free space with nothing in the way
- free
general term for absence of obstacles
- blocked
the direct opposite — something is in the way
- obstructed
more formal, used for paths or views that are blocked
文法句型
clear + noun (road, path, view, space)
clear of + noun
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' to specify what is not in the way: 'clear of obstacles', 'clear of traffic'.
常見錯誤
9. with no tasks, meetings, or other planned activities during a particular time.
with no tasks, meetings, or other planned activities during a particular time.
Stephanie checked her calendar and found that next Tuesday was completely clear.
collocation: calendar / schedule is clear
The dentist said he had a clear slot at three o'clock on Thursday afternoon.
Iker's weekend was surprisingly clear, so he decided to join the hiking trip.
The conference room is clear after lunch, so you can book it for a meeting.
Ritu keeps one clear afternoon each week for reading and relaxing at home.
文法句型
time period + be + clear
用法筆記
Commonly used with time-related nouns: 'clear calendar', 'clear schedule', 'clear weekend'. Not used for permanent or long-term situations.
10. free from feelings of guilt or worry that you have done something wrong, especia
free from feelings of guilt or worry that you have done something wrong, especially after being honest or doing the right thing.
Eitan went to bed with a clear conscience after telling the truth about the accident.
idiom: clear conscience (not feel guilty)
Dario returned the lost wallet to its owner and felt completely clear about it.
pattern: feel clear about [something]
Defne had a clear conscience because she apologized to her friend for the mistake.
Lucía could look her brother in the eye with a clear conscience that night.
After telling the whole truth in court, Ife walked away with a clear conscience.
- guilt-free
more informal; focuses on the emotional state
- innocent
stronger; used in legal contexts for being proven not guilty
- untroubled
broader; can refer to a mind free from any worry, not just guilt
- guilty
feeling that you have done something wrong
文法句型
have a clear conscience
conscience is clear
feel clear about
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'conscience' (have a clear conscience / your conscience is clear). Can also be used with 'feel clear about' to express the absence of guilt over a specific action.
11. able to reason in a logical, orderly fashion without mental confusion, especiall
able to reason in a logical, orderly fashion without mental confusion, especially in stressful or high-pressure situations.
After a good night of sleep, Faisal felt clear-headed and ready for the exam.
collocation: clear-headed (compound adjective)
Jisoo took a deep breath to keep her mind clear during the difficult interview.
collocation: keep one's mind clear
The manager stayed clear and focused even when the project faced serious problems.
Apinya's clear thinking under pressure impressed everyone in the meeting room.
A short walk in the park helped Dario get his thoughts clear again.
文法句型
clear + about + noun
keep + mind + clear
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (ABLE TO BE UNDERSTOOD): sense 1 describes the message itself being easy to understand; this sense describes the person's mental state of being able to think well.
常見錯誤
12. without any problems, difficulties, debts, or unwanted conditions that would nor
without any problems, difficulties, debts, or unwanted conditions that would normally affect the situation.
The flight was clear of any delays and landed right on time that evening.
pattern: clear of [problems/delays/debt]
Ritu's visa application passed through the system clear of any errors.
The company is now clear of debt after five years of careful financial planning.
Ife's recovery was clear of complications, and she went home after three days.
The contract was clear of legal issues, so both companies signed it quickly.
- free
broader meaning; can apply to many situations but less specific to 'no problems'
- trouble-free
emphasises the absence of difficulties or effort
- unencumbered
formal; suggests being free from burdens or restrictions
- burdened
carrying problems or debts
- encumbered
formal; loaded with difficulties
文法句型
clear of + noun (debt, complications, problems)
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'clear of' followed by a noun. Common in legal, financial, and medical contexts (clear of debt, clear of complications). Only used after a verb, not before a noun.
13. describes money that remains after someone has paid taxes, bills, and other nece
describes money that remains after someone has paid taxes, bills, and other necessary costs — for example, a salary after all deductions have been taken out.
After paying for food and rent, Ife had only three hundred dollars clear each week.
amount + clear — describes leftover money after expenses
The family business reported a clear profit of over two million pounds this year.
clear profit — net profit after all costs
Haruto's clear earnings after tax were enough to buy a small apartment.
Once Camila paid all her bills, she had very little clear money left.
The new contract gave Aarav a clear annual income of ninety thousand dollars.
文法句型
clear + noun (clear profit)
amount + clear ($50,000 clear)
用法筆記
Frequently placed after the amount ($80,000 clear) or directly before the noun (clear profit, clear earnings, clear income). This sense applies only to money remaining after deductions — never to gross or pre-tax amounts.
常見錯誤
14. positioned at a distance from something so that there is no physical contact bet
positioned at a distance from something so that there is no physical contact between them; separated by an open space.
Make sure the ladder is clear of the power line before you start working.
clear of + noun — staying away from a hazard
The children stood clear of the fire while the adults added more wood.
stood clear of — maintaining a safe distance
Keep medicine bottles clear of the shelf edge so children cannot reach them.
The driving instructor told Jason to stay clear of the bus in front.
When the tree fell, Maja shouted for everyone to run clear of its branches.
- away from
general-purpose phrase for any distance
- separate from
suggests intentional distance or division
- free of
emphasises that there is no contact or obstruction
- touching
direct opposite — in physical contact
- against
pressed up onto a surface
- in contact with
describes things that are not separated by space
文法句型
clear of + noun phrase
keep/stay/stand clear of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always used with the preposition 'of' in the pattern clear of [something]. Common in imperative and warning constructions such as keep clear of, stand clear of, and stay clear of.
常見錯誤
clear — adverb
1. at a distance from something, far enough away that you are not touching it or be
at a distance from something, far enough away that you are not touching it or being affected by it
Anya told the children to stand clear of the train doors.
stand clear of [something]
A yellow rope warned people to keep clear of the construction site.
keep clear of [place]
Nikhil stayed well clear of the edge of the cliff.
The driver steered clear of the broken glass on the road.
Maeve pulled the curtain clear of the candle flame.
- close to
near or touching, the opposite of keeping distance
文法句型
stand/keep/stay + clear + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is always followed by 'of'. Common verbs that appear before 'clear' include 'stand', 'keep', 'stay', and 'steer'.
常見錯誤
2. deliberately staying away from a person, situation, or topic to prevent problems
deliberately staying away from a person, situation, or topic to prevent problems, arguments, or danger
Tuan decided to steer clear of office gossip after the last misunderstanding.
steer clear of [topic/situation]
Salma usually keeps clear of any topic that might cause an argument at family dinners.
keep clear of [topic]
The politician stayed clear of the reporter's questions about the scandal.
Eleni warned her younger brother to stay clear of the gang near the park.
Adisa keeps clear of anyone who tries to borrow money and never pays it back.
文法句型
steer/stay/keep + clear + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (KEEP DISTANCE): sense 1 refers to physical distance from objects or places, while this sense refers to avoiding people, topics, or situations. 'Steer clear of' is the most common fixed expression for this sense.