clear out
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle out
Meanings
Tidy by removing things you don't need
Why “out”? Pushing outward to eliminate. What is removed is sent away.
“I cleared out my wardrobe.”
“She cleared out the old files.”
Don't confuse with
Clear out means tidy by removing things you don't need. Clear up means tidy a place by putting things away.
Test yourself
“I cleared out my wardrobe.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
clear up
A contrast learners often mix up
Tidy a place by putting things away; (of weather) become bright and dry after rain or cloud; Resolve a misunderstanding or doubt by explaining it; (of an illness, rash or symptom) disappear or get better; Solve a mystery or unsolved problem
blot out
Same out pattern: removal
Cover or hide something so it can no longer be seen
burn out
Same out pattern: removal
Become exhausted from overwork; (of a fire) stop burning because there is no fuel left; (of an electrical device) stop working because of overheating; Destroy a building or vehicle by fire
cash out
Same out pattern: removal
Withdraw money from an account or investment
chuck out
Same out pattern: removal
Throw something away
clean out
Same out pattern: removal
Remove the contents of a place and clean it thoroughly
cross out
Same out pattern: removal
Mark for deletion
cut out
Same out pattern: removal
Remove by cutting
Practice “clear out” in Sink In
Drill this and 600+ phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by particle.