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

He wasn’t the only one to clear out his direct holdings.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

If staying into the week, hiking Kaaterskill Falls becomes far more enjoyable once the crowds clear out.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

It was only found after a water leak in Maynard's loft meant he had to clear out stacks of old boxes.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

As the body's ability to clear out old neutrophils changes over time, disruptions in this process could lead to increased tissue damage.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

“You have to clear out the rocks before you can plant, sugar. Or nothing will grow.”

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Related Words

• clean out
• dispose of
• get rid of