clearing

American  

[kleer-ing] / ˈklɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that clears; the process of becoming clear.

2. a tract of land, as in a forest, that contains no trees or bushes.

3. the reciprocal exchange between banks of checks and drafts, and the settlement of the differences.

4. clearings, the total of claims settled at a clearinghouse.

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clearing British  

/ ˈklɪərɪŋ /

noun

1. an area with few or no trees or shrubs in wooded or overgrown land

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Other Word Forms

• unclearing adjective

Etymology

Origin of clearing

First recorded in 1350–1400, clearing is from the Middle English word clering. See clear, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Doncic scored his final points of the night on a two-handed dunk in transition, methodically jumping off of both feet before barely clearing the top of the rim.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Everyone talks about “budgeting” — but I’ve found the real challenge is clearing the psychological hurdle to sitting down and auditing where your cash actually goes each month.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

After clearing security, her group went to their assigned gate—only to discover that it was for a different flight.

From Slate • Mar. 26, 2026

When clearing out a family member's home, you could find many strange things in the attic.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The Ravens had camped in a clearing by a mountain stream.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• clearance
• expanse