clear up

phrasal verb·5 senses·particle up

Meanings

1

Tidy a place by putting things away

Finishing

Why “up”? Filling to the top. Reaching the upper limit means finishing.

“I'll clear up after the meal.”
I'll tidy everything away after the meal.
“She cleared up the kitchen before bed.”
She tidied everything away in the kitchen before bed.
“Could you clear up these toys?”
Could you put these toys away?
2

(of weather) become bright and dry after rain or cloud

Appearance

Why “up”? Rising into view. What comes up becomes present and visible.

“It rained all morning but cleared up by lunch.”
It rained all morning but turned bright and dry by lunch.
“The sky cleared up before the picnic.”
The sky became bright and dry before the picnic.
“The fog finally cleared up at noon.”
The fog finally lifted at noon.
3

Resolve a misunderstanding or doubt by explaining it

Finishing
“Let me clear up any confusion.”
Let me resolve any confusion by explaining.
“Her answer cleared up the mistake.”
Her answer resolved the mistake by explaining it.
“His email cleared up the misunderstanding.”
His email put an end to the misunderstanding.
4

(of an illness, rash or symptom) disappear or get better

Finishing
“The infection cleared up after the antibiotics.”
The infection went away after the antibiotics.
“His cough cleared up after a week.”
His cough went away after a week.
“The rash should clear up on its own.”
The rash should fade away on its own.
5

Solve a mystery or unsolved problem

Finishinguncommon
“Detectives finally cleared up the case.”
Detectives finally solved the case.
“The new clue cleared up the mystery.”
The new clue solved the mystery.
“We can't go home until this is cleared up.”
We can't go home until this puzzle is solved.

Don't confuse with

clear upclear out

Clear up means tidy a place by putting things away. Clear out means tidy by removing things you don't need.

Test yourself

“I'll clear up after the meal.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

clear out

A contrast learners often mix up

Tidy by removing things you don't need

add up

Same up pattern: finishing

Combine into a larger total; Make sense or seem true

blow up

Same up pattern: appearance

Explode or be destroyed by an explosion; Inflate something by filling it with air; Suddenly become very angry; Enlarge a photograph or image; (of a storm or argument) develop quickly into something serious

break up

Same up pattern: finishing

Break into pieces; End a relationship or gathering

bring up

Same up pattern: appearance

Mention or raise a topic

call up

Same up pattern: appearance

Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team

catch up

Same up pattern: appearance

Reach the same level or position as someone ahead; Get up to date with news, work or events you have missed; (of bad behaviour or neglect) start to have unavoidable consequences; Spend time talking to a friend after a period apart

clean up

Same up pattern: finishing

Tidy thoroughly

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