clearing
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing clearing
Of Mice and Men
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The Wild Robot
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King and the Dragonflies
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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.
Friedman notes that the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. is extending its hours so there will be real-time clearing.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
The real opportunity isn’t clearing space for one generation by pushing out another.
From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026
Consider the standoff, the protests, and the ultimate clearing of the homeless camp at Echo Park Lake a few years back.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
For council teams who end up clearing the litter along busier roads, the danger is often mitigated by having to temporarily close routes – to the inconvenience of commuters.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
There was only a narrow space from the door to the center of the room, where the cradle lay, and then a small clearing behind that for the window.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
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.
