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

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noun

1. the act or an instance of clearing up

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 .

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Example Sentences

For Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s chief financial officer, it was time to clear up the confusion.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

The necessary condition for Powell to leave is to clear up the legal matters.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Investors are weighing the news and whether the weeks of travel chaos might now clear up soon.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

The Cabinet Office has said changes to clear up processes in Whitehall will be introduced to ensure improvements can be made in communities across the country.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

“Nothing wrong with my vision. I can see clear up to the moon from the porch. I can see all the comings and goings and shooting stars.”

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Related Words

• clarify
• illustrate
• resolve
• solve
• straighten out
• unravel