clear out

British  

verb

1. informal (intr) to go away: often used imperatively

2. (tr) to remove and sort the contents of (a room, container, etc)

3. slang (tr) to leave (someone) with no money

4. slang (tr) to exhaust (stocks, goods, etc) completely

5. (tr) to get rid of (employees, players, etc, that are no longer required)

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noun

1. the act or an instance of clearing out

clear out Idioms  

1. Also, . Remove the contents, take something or someone away, as in I'll clear out this closet so you can use it , or Let me clear away these things , or Please clear off the table . The first phrase dates from the mid-1600s, the second from the mid-1700s, and the third from the early 1700s. Sometimes away and out are omitted, as in Let me clear these things , or Please clear the table . Also see clean up , def. 1.

2. Depart suddenly or run away, as in We cleared out before our landlord could stop us . [Early 1800s]

3. Drive or force out, as in The police cleared out the restaurant in no time . [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

Clear out any leaves or debris that might be blocking your gutter and downspout.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 23, 2021

Clear out a desk drawer for the letters.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2021

Clear out any nesting materials or droppings before starting the engine, especially from areas near an exhaust system that will get hot.

From New York Times • Apr. 3, 2021

A new company, Alclear, bought Clear out of bankruptcy in 2010 and offered to honor the 160,000 existing memberships.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2016

“Thanks a million. Clear out of here now, please. I’ve lost about ten pounds already.”

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• clean out
• dispose of
• get rid of