clearing

American  

[kleer-ing] / ˈklɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that clears; the process of becoming clear.

2. a tract of land, as in a forest, that contains no trees or bushes.

3. the reciprocal exchange between banks of checks and drafts, and the settlement of the differences.

4. clearings, the total of claims settled at a clearinghouse.

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clearing British  

/ ˈklɪərɪŋ /

noun

1. an area with few or no trees or shrubs in wooded or overgrown land

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unclearing
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of clearing

First recorded in 1350–1400, clearing is from the Middle English word clering. See clear, -ing ¹

Explanation

A clearing is an area that's open, with no trees, especially one in the middle of the woods or that's been cleared for planting. A clearing at the edge of the forest is a nice place to build a cabin. The noun clearing is a good way to describe an open place in the midst of dense growth, like a field or a glade in a forest. Some clearings are created deliberately for cultivating crops or building houses, while others come naturally from fires or droughts. This word first appeared in American English around 1818.

Example Sentences

The Lebanese army went to work clearing Hezbollah positions and weapons caches in the south in an effort the U.S. and even Israel acknowledged was having an effect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Another Phase 3 is trying the treatment before cognitive symptoms appear—to see if it can prevent amyloid’s harm rather than just clearing amyloid rubble from a damaged brain.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Bass told The Times she plans to win in November by demonstrating her administration’s progress in clearing homeless encampments and accelerating the building of affordable housing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Nearby, neighbourhood boys joined municipal workers in clearing rubble from a children's activity centre, with painted purple butterflies still visible on what is left of its windows.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

A drive-in sits in the center of a huge clearing, the surrounding trees blocking out the town’s bustling sounds and creating the illusion that we’re far away.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• clearance
• expanse