1 A2 neutral
To make a place tidy by removing mess or clutter.
"We need to clear up before the guests arrive."
separable
clear up
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To make a place tidy; or to resolve a misunderstanding or problem; or (of weather or illness) to improve.
In plain English
To tidy a place; to fix a misunderstanding; or for bad weather or a skin problem to get better.
What does "clear up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To resolve a misunderstanding, confusion, or question.
"I'd like to clear up any misunderstanding about the company's refund policy."
separable
3 A2 neutral
(of weather) To become brighter and less cloudy; (of an illness or skin condition) to improve or disappear.
"The rain should clear up by this afternoon, according to the forecast."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make something clear (free of obstruction or confusion).
Actually means
To tidy a place; to fix a misunderstanding; or for bad weather or a skin problem to get better.
Usage tip
A highly versatile phrasal verb with three common senses. The 'weather' and 'health' senses are intransitive. The 'misunderstanding' sense is very useful in business and academic contexts. The 'tidying' sense overlaps with 'clean up.'
Words that pair with "clear up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
misunderstanding confusion mess weather skin infection mystery doubt
How to conjugate "clear up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
clear up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
clears up
he/she/it
Past simple
cleared up
yesterday
Past participle
cleared up
have + pp
-ing form
clearing up
continuous
Hear "clear up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "clear up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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