clearing

noun

clear·​ing ˈklir-iŋ How to pronounce clearing (audio)
Synonyms of clearingnext
1
: the act or process of making or becoming clear
2
: a tract of land cleared of wood and brush
3
: the settlement of accounts or exchange of financial instruments especially between banks

Synonyms of clearing

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Examples of clearing in a Sentence

the clearing of the table the clearing of wood and brush from part of the forest We found a clearing in the forest.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The landscape was so combustible that investigators believe routine brush-clearing work near a high-voltage line may have sparked the inferno, even though the work appeared to comply with regulations. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 With their uninterrupted views of Union Bay, the gleaming white canvas tents rising out of a clearing in the woods had an almost fairy-tale quality, as if they had been conjured rather than constructed. — Dinaw Mengestu, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2026 Legacy rails separate messaging, clearing and settlement across a stack of intermediaries. — Brett Turner, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 That includes a pilot program to issue tokenized stocks that is being carried out by clearing and settlement giant DTCC and firms like JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clearing

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clearing was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing clearing

Rhymes for clearing

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Browse Nearby Words

clear in
clearing
clearing agreement
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Cite this Entry

“Clearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clearing. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clearing

noun
clear·​ing ˈkli(ə)r-iŋ How to pronounce clearing (audio)
1
: the act or process of making or becoming clear
2
: an area of land cleared of wood and brush

More from Merriam-Webster on clearing

Nglish: Translation of clearing for Spanish Speakers

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