clear out

verb

cleared out; clearing out; clears out

intransitive verb

: depart

transitive verb

: to drive out or away usually forcibly

Synonyms

• disband
• dispel
• disperse
• dissipate
• scatter
• squander

Examples of clear out in a Sentence

police used tear gas to clear out the demonstrators

everyone cleared out as soon as the fire alarm began sounding

Recent Examples on the Web

The environmental impact of emails can be mitigated through small changes in behavior, such as minimizing ‘reply all’ responses, regularly clearing out inboxes, and implementing corporate email policies that discourage unnecessary mass communications. —Monica Sanders, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

Scrape your tongue During the night, the body clears out toxins, which often accumulate on the surface of the tongue. —Hannah Coates, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2024

But rather than hold up a fist to signal the clear out, second base umpire Ryan Blakney repeatedly pointed to the bag and waved his arms safe. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2024

Greenfield, who's been in business for about three-and-a half years, said a client hired him to demo and clear out a building on Northwestern Parkway, which was involved in a fire late last year. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

clear out

verb

1

: to go or run away often suddenly or secretly

a horse broke loose and cleared out

cleared out without paying me back

2

: to drive out or away usually with force

police cleared out the demonstrators