How to Use clear in a Sentence

clear

1 of 4 adjective
  • He was the clear winner.
  • She's the clear favorite to win the election.
  • It's not clear how much longer we'll have to wait.
  • Her writing has a clear style.
  • The instructions weren't very clear about when we were supposed to begin.
  • She has made it abundantly clear that she does not support us.
  • I think I have a clear understanding of the problem.
  • There are clear differences between the two candidates.
  • I'm not completely happy with the plan, but I see no clear alternative.
  • And to be clear: Don’t be quick to call this player-speak.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2024
  • Wipe with clear water a few times, then let the wood dry.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
  • Through tonight: Skies stay mainly clear through the night, and winds are calm to light.
    — Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2024
  • The full scope of the transfer of children to Russia is not clear.
    — Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 16 Oct. 2023
  • Wednesday could be even warmer with clear skies and a high near 86.
    — oregonlive, 31 July 2023
  • To be clear, this isn’t a place to ridicule, but rather gather and revere.
    — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 30 Nov. 2023
  • The fence is the clear giveaway that what’s inside is valuable to the public.
    — Ian F. Blair, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023
  • So, yes, there are jobs here, and that’s been made clear to every kid.
    — Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
  • The responding officer said the weather at the time of the crash was clear and the road was dry.
    — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 6 Apr. 2024
  • CEOs bite back There has been a clear sea change in the debate about where people work.
    — Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2023
  • And why buffalo have become the new prey of choice isn’t yet clear.
    — Popular Science, 25 Jan. 2024
  • The true cost in lives and economic losses won’t be clear for some time.
    — Jenny Gross, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
  • Her ability to be present is a clear sign of the mental peace she’s attained.
    — Celeste Polanco, Essence, 13 Mar. 2024
  • Catcher Sam Huff set up on the plate, perhaps because of the throw, perhaps not, and closed off a clear path.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2023
  • For La Fantaisie’s proprietors, Crenn was the clear choice.
    — Laura Neilson, Town & Country, 13 June 2023
  • But mainstream acceptance was very much not the point — as their name made clear.
    — Alex Williams, BostonGlobe.com, 22 June 2023
  • As a result, the need for sex- and gender-based equity in health research is strikingly clear.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
  • And doing it as warfare has very clear objectives.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
  • City trailed 1-0 at Anfield, leaving Arsenal nine points clear at the top.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Even though multivitamins may be gummy and come in fun shapes and colors, be clear with your child about their purpose.
    — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Be sure all vents, registers, and radiators are clear.
    — Erin Huffstetler, The Spruce, 9 Feb. 2026

clear

2 of 4 adverb
  • The ball rolled clear across the street.
  • We drove clear across the state.
  • The long-range path suggest Earl could recurve to the north and steer clear of the U.S.
    — Leigh Morgan, al, 2 Sep. 2022
  • Kate and William are making their ties to the RAF clear this year.
    — Town & Country, 11 Aug. 2023
  • The larger group of oligarchs got the message to steer clear of Putin.
    — Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 16 Mar. 2022
  • On June 21, the first day of summer, a clear-blue sky stretched over Sievierodonetsk.
    — Jeffrey Gettleman, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023
  • Then layer the hearts on the cardstock base with clear-drying glue.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2023
  • Forests must be clear-cut, leaving less space for wild species.
    — Boyce Upholt, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2022
  • This was a hat trick of horrible the Bruins should’ve steered clear of.
    — Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Nov. 2022
  • To feel your best, steer clear of foods in these categories.
    — Sarah Garone, Health.com, 7 Mar. 2022
  • From Pineville, the drive along Big Sugar Creek is lovely, with great views of the clear-flowing stream.
    — Flip Putthoff, Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2022
  • That is a simple and clear-cut answer to your first question.
    — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 21 Sep. 2022
  • One of the biggest cheers from the crowd came 12:15 in when Comrie made a glove save to stop Eichel on a clear-cut breakaway.
    — John Wawrow, ajc, 11 Nov. 2022
  • Broberg credits the book club with helping her look at her ordeal in a clear-eyed way.
    — Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 6 Oct. 2022
  • As for China, SpaceX looks like it’s steering clear of the country.
    — PCMAG, 11 Oct. 2022
  • As with many questions in the realm of personal finance, the answer isn't clear-cut.
    — Becca Stanek, The Week, 23 Jan. 2023
  • Relief needs in the earliest days of response may seem clear-cut.
    — Patricia McIlreavy, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023
  • Even one of the team’s likely strengths, its bullpen, lacks a clear closer entering the new campaign.
    — Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The main items to steer clear of are sweets, white breads and pastas, white rice and most starchy foods, including potatoes.
    — Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 7 Feb. 2022
  • Other spots seem more clear-cut: Hall as a net-front man, Bergeron in the bumper, and Pastrnak in the left circle.
    — Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022
  • We've been told the process involves hand-prepping, painting, and then clear-coating.
    — Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 1 Mar. 2022
  • As much as the other candidates steered clear of Trump in the final weeks, Vance has done the opposite.
    — cleveland, 30 Apr. 2022
  • But the business case against sabbaticals is not so clear-cut.
    — Joe Pinsker, The Atlantic, 23 May 2022
  • That’s largely thanks to ranchers and farmers, who clear-cut the forest and burn the detritus to make way for crops and cattle.
    — Matt Simon, Wired, 7 Mar. 2022
  • But if, by and large, there are only two dominant parties, as in the U.S., things should be fairly clear-cut.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2022
  • Winnie Chiu, who held the number tag 10, steered clear from politics during the protest.
    — Chris Lau, CNN, 28 Mar. 2023
  • Discussions with partners, spouses and close friends will be clear-headed and direct.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Later, a pastor clear across the canton griped about another broadcast.
    — Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Leclerc had moved to the more durable mediums and was able to pull clear after the initial gains made by his rival.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
  • And then Bednar has been the clear closer option since joining the team at the trade deadline.
    — Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

clear

3 of 4 verb
  • The sky cleared after the rain.
  • I'll clear those books out of the way.
  • The police ordered the crowd to clear the area.
  • They cleared timber from the land.
  • The water cleared after the mud had settled.
  • She cleared everything out of the closet.
  • When the smoke cleared, we could see that the building had been completely destroyed.
  • My skin cleared when I started using the cream.
  • The weather is cloudy now, but it's clearing gradually.
  • The morning fog gradually cleared.
  • This year, there was only one day — May 7 — on which the skies cleared enough to see the sun.
    — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2023
  • At the sculpture park, the bluff has been cleared and trimmed, but only to a point.
    — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
  • Even as the clouds cleared and the wind subsided, many people were left in the dark.
    — Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024
  • An inquiry has, of course, cleared him, but the damage is done.
    — Dominic Green, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024
  • On the bright side, the Guardians, last in the big leagues in homers, continued to clear outfield fences north of the border.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 26 Aug. 2023
  • Google has submitted the app to the FDA for this purpose, but it hasn't been cleared for such use.
    — WIRED, 4 Oct. 2023
  • The Blue Pure Max unit clears the air of odor and pollen quickly — and does it quietly.
    — Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
  • This week, for a small fee, her mess will finally be cleared.
    — Carly Olson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2024
  • In March, a judge ruled in their favor and ordered the city to clear the encampments.
    — Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2023
  • This is what Lahaina faces today as the smoke begins to clear.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023
  • Banks had a clean sheet on his way to the title, clearing each height on his first attempt.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
  • This will keep the hook from rocking or rolling too far to one side, giving you the best chance to clear the cover.
    — Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 12 Oct. 2023
  • Part Two star used his latest SNL monologue to clear things up.
    — Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024
  • Right, but a lot of people might think getting rid of all cars is a pretty high bar to clear.
    — Curbed, 8 Nov. 2023
  • Not until Friday night, when a cold front comes through, will winds shift and help clear the air.
    — Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023
  • The third child was cleared with non-life threatening injuries.
    — Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2023
  • The teacher cleared his throat, shifted awkwardly.
    — Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The player who reaches the bottom fastest while clearing each gate wins that heat.
    — Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The debris has been cleared, leaving only foundations and driveways where historic homes once stood.
    — Christine Lennon, Architectural Digest, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Before the crash was cleared, Medic reported paramedics were on the scene and the four people were hurt when the vehicle overturned.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026

clear

4 of 4 noun
  • One breached clear of the water in an Olympic-worthy finale.
    — Brian J. Cantwell, idahostatesman, 1 May 2017
  • What made his and Marcus’s decision clear was the standard to which UVA’s players are held.
    — Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Oct. 2021
  • North Carolina’s 9-0 run in the second half was assisted in part by a 10-man ride that seemed to cause problems for the Great Danes, who failed on four of eight clears in the third quarter.
    — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, 21 May 2017
  • On defense Akers retreated time and again to make crucial clears.
    — Grant Wahl, SI.com, 2 July 2015
  • Brady adds that Kennedy, who has committed to play at Virginia Tech, was just as valuable on defending clears thanks to her strong footwork.
    — Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, 10 June 2019
  • Although the public health guidelines are clear - steer clear of others - these workers are putting in longer shifts and taking on bigger workloads.
    — Author: Abha Bhattarai, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Apr. 2020
  • Off the beaches, Spanish mackerel will turn on as soon as winds drop and water clears, and cobia are also in the area around markers and other structure.
    — Frank Sargeant, AL.com, 20 Apr. 2018
  • The Black Knights ousted Maryland despite taking 15 fewer shots, committing 10 more turnovers and failing on four clears.
    — Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2023
  • But steer clear of buying this for gamers looking for a traditional Sonic or Mario platformers: This might be a loser for them.
    — Lisa Marie Segarra, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2019
  • Coach Matt Painter has a clear of what Purdue basketball needs heading into next season: quickness.
    — Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2023
  • Borrowers may now be in the clear.
    — Annie Nova, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
  • All that winning leads to quick clears and less time in the zone.
    — Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • But that doesn't mean Kim herself is in the clear.
    — Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Here’s how caffeine interacts with different types of medications, and how to time your coffee to stay in the clear.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • At the end of the first day, DiLoreto succeeded in making his objective clear.
    — Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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