all clear
Americannoun
noun
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a signal, usually a siren, indicating that some danger, such as an air raid, is over
-
an indication that obstacles are no longer present; permission to proceed
he received the all clear on the plan
Etymology
Origin of all clear
First recorded in 1915–20
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A drone carrying a camera checked the rope and gave him the all clear, which allowed him to return to the task with a calmer mind.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
"People can go and have a mammogram, get the all clear and then, a few months later, get diagnosed with lobular breast cancer."
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
About 16,000 of roughly 50,000 evacuees are still waiting for the all clear.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
Paphos airport in western Cyprus was also evacuated but later got the all clear and was operating as normal, an airport official said.
From Barron's ● Mar. 2, 2026
“I told you, I—” “Yes. You said were looking for the deserter. And I’m saying there’s nothing wrong with me. Now it’s all clear and in the open.”
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
