clear up meaning and examples

Meaning

The phrasal verb clear up has several meanings depending on context:

1. To make a place tidy and clean → to remove clutter or mess. (e.g., I need to clear up my room before guests arrive.)

2. To explain or resolve confusion → to clarify or solve a misunderstanding. (e.g., The teacher cleared up the students’ doubts.)

3. To improve (about the weather or health) → when bad weather or illness improves. (e.g., The sky is clearing up after the rain.)

Grammar and Usage

• Verb type: Phrasal verb (transitive & intransitive)

• Patterns:

  • clear up + noun (tidy, explain)
  • clear up (weather/illness improves, no object)

• Can be separable when meaning “tidy up” or “resolve.”

  • She cleared up the misunderstanding.
  • She cleared it up.

Common Phrases

• clear up a mess
• clear up a misunderstanding
• clear up the confusion
• the sky clears up
• my skin condition cleared up

Collocations

• Verb + clear up: try to clear up, help to clear up
• Noun + clear up: clear up operation, clear up process
• Adjective + clear up: quick clear up, complete clear up

Examples

1. Could you clear up the kitchen after dinner?
2. The manager explained everything to clear up the confusion.
3. After two days of rain, the weather finally cleared up.
4. His cold cleared up after a week of rest.
5. The police worked hard to clear up the case.
6. I want to clear up one thing before we continue this discussion.
7. The clouds are moving away; it looks like it’s going to clear up soon.

Synonyms or Related

• tidy up
• put away
• straighten up
• explain
• resolve

Antonym

• mess up
• confuse
• complicate
• worsen (for weather/health)