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Synonyms

clear up

British  

verb

  1. (tr) to explain or solve (a mystery, misunderstanding, etc)

  2. to put (a place or thing that is disordered) in order

  3. (intr) (of the weather) to become brighter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or an instance of clearing up

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
clear up Idioms  
  1. Clarify, explain, solve, as in Let's try to clear up this misunderstanding . [Late 1600s]

  2. Become clear, as in After the storm, it cleared up very quickly . [Early 1600s]

  3. Return something to a normal condition, cure, as in This new salve will clear up your rash .


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.

See Examples For:

People have successfully done this to correct billing mistakes and clear up errors, Kelmar said.

From MarketWatch Jul. 28, 2026

“I would like to clear up the rumblings of my son having involvement in the Ladera Ranch fire,” her statement began.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 10, 2026

The tidying expert from BBC One's Sort Your Life Out once helped an ex-boyfriend clear up and organise his mother's home after she died.

From BBC Jun. 28, 2026

Workers were seen dumping hydrogen peroxide along the pool’s perimeter, which did clear up the water along the perimeter.

From Slate Jun. 19, 2026

In a strange way he was looking forward to it—relieved that things were going to clear up between them, however things turned out.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

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