clarify

American  

[klar-uh-fahy] / ˈklær əˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

• clarifies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clarified,
  past participle,  past
• clarifying
  present participle

1. 

   to make (an idea, statement, etc.) clear or intelligible; to free from ambiguity.

   Synonyms:

   resolve, elucidate, illuminate, explain

2. to remove solid matter from (a liquid); to make into a clear or pellucid liquid.

3. to free (the mind, intelligence, etc.) from confusion; revive.

   The short nap clarified his thoughts.

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verb (used without object)

• clarifies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clarified,
  past participle,  past
• clarifying
  present participle

1. to become clear, pure, or intelligible.

   The political situation clarified.

clarify British  

/ ˈklærɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to make or become clear or easy to understand

2. to make or become free of impurities

3. to make (fat, butter, etc) clear by heating, etc, or (of fat, etc) to become clear as a result of such a process

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clarification
  noun
• clarifier
  noun
• nonclarified
  adjective
• unclarified
  adjective
• unclarifying
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• clarifying
  present
• clarified
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• clarify
  simple
• clarifies
  simple
• have clarified
  perfect
• has clarified
  perfect
• am clarifying
  progressive
• are clarifying
  progressive
• is clarifying
  progressive
• have been clarifying
  perfect progressive
• has been clarifying
  perfect progressive

Past

• clarified
  simple
• had clarified
  perfect
• was clarifying
  progressive
• were clarifying
  progressive
• had been clarifying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will clarify
  simple
• will have clarified
  perfect
• will be clarifying
  progressive
• will have been clarifying
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of clarify

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French clarifier, from Late Latin clārificāre, equivalent to Latin clār(us) “clear” + -ificāre -ify

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Explanation

Clarify means to clear up confusion and make it all understandable. In a heart-breaking text, she clarified that she never ever wanted to see him again. It also means to remove impurities in a liquid; you clarify butter by gently heating it. Clarify and clear are related, of course, and clear means you can see right through it. If you clarify your intention or your meaning, others will understand it clearly. If you aren't clear at the outset, you might find the need to clarify what you want later.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clarify clarifies clarified clarifying

They appealed and urged the Supreme Court to rule on their case and to clarify the law.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

His work helped clarify how LPC70 produces different effects in the organs involved in salt-related cardiovascular and cognitive problems.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

"We urge the government to clarify quickly the issues raised by this affair over ministerial involvement in the vetting process."

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Studies have found that visualization — being prompted to consider vivid and emotionally meaningful images — can clarify how we perceive risk and prepare for it.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

I pause, and then try to clarify my question so it doesn’t sound like criticism.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

As Fielder clarifies the punchline, Holmes breaks down in tears across from him, frustrated that she can’t understand.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

The impact is muted because it instantly clarifies how needlessly trivial everything before it was.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Locke, 22, jokes that a lot of the time people are just handed producer credits, but clarifies "we actually put some effort in and took it seriously".

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

She clarifies, “you know that saying, ‘No man is an island,’ well, Reg thought that was baloney.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

And then when I look at him blankly, he clarifies.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Current staffing levels have also not yet been clarified.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

Last December, Gomez clarified a shift in her vocal tone, telling fans on Instagram, “sometimes things happen.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

The broader genetic analysis finally clarified the coral's evolutionary position.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

"I am suspending their use in the high school student protests until the facts of the incident have been clarified," said Nunez.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

“A mutant humpbacked walrus with a deformed tail,” she clarified.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

The tale of the landmark musical “Shuffle Along” gets told with convivial authority by its composer, Eubie Blake, along with a clarifying anecdote about his no-handshake encounter with Charles Lindbergh.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

"I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials," she told Newsweek, without clarifying whether she held a US law license.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Meanwhile, at the high end: Sweetgreen is clarifying pricing when customers create their own bowls or salads to avoid surprising people with big totals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

A new report discussing OpenAI’s revenue progress seems to be clarifying issues that had been spooking investors.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

Added to all her other chores was the task of clarifying the syrup brought up to the house.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson

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Related Words

• analyze
• clear up
• define
• formulate
• interpret
• resolve
• simplify
• spell out

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