clear away

USAGE SUMMARY

"clear away" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean either "to put something somewhere else, especially in order to make space" or "to get rid of something". For example: "The children quickly cleared away their toys when they heard their mother coming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Clear away clutter.

The New York Times

Bankruptcy can clear away most debts.

The New York Times

6 30 Clear away dishes.

The New York Times

Clear away the mythology surrounding Ali.

The New York Times - Sports

She calls the waiter and asks him to clear away.

The New Yorker

"We believe it's then going to clear away.

Independent

We must do more to clear away the obstacles.

The Washington Post

There was not much to clear away," Mr Rayner said.

The Telegraph

We clear away boxes and the tax issue comes up.

The Guardian - Tech

And for many the answer is clear: away from Clegg.

The Guardian

The boy who had spoken nipped forward to clear away.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clear away" to describe weather, remember that it implies a gradual improvement rather than an immediate change. For example, "The clouds will clear away by noon."

Common error

Avoid using "clear away" as a direct substitute for every removal action. For instance, while you can "clear away the dishes", it's less appropriate for abstract concepts like "clear away doubts", where "dispel" or "eliminate" might be more fitting.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "clear away" primarily functions as a transitive verb, indicating the action of removing something from a place. As Ludwig AI confirms, it can mean putting something somewhere else to make space or getting rid of something altogether. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its utility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

35%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "clear away" is a versatile and commonly used expression that describes the act of removing something to create space or eliminate clutter. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides diverse examples that demonstrate its usage across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki sources, "clear away" maintains a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal communication. While it's an effective way to describe tidying or removing obstacles, it's important to consider more precise alternatives like "tidy up" or "remove" to ensure clarity and avoid overuse. Remember to consider the specific context to achieve the most impactful and accurate expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clear off

Similar in meaning, often used for removing things from a surface.

tidy up

Focuses specifically on making something neat and organized.

remove

A more general term for taking something away.

get rid of

Emphasizes disposal or elimination.

clean up

Broader term encompassing various cleaning activities.

take away

Focuses on the act of carrying something away.

eliminate

Suggests complete removal or eradication.

disappear

Implies something vanishing or ceasing to be visible.

vanish

Similar to disappear, suggesting a sudden or mysterious disappearance.

move

Focuses on changing the location of something.

FAQs

How can I use "clear away" in a sentence?

You can use "clear away" in sentences like "Please "clear away" the clutter from the table" or "The storm should "clear away" by morning" depending on the context.

What's a synonym for "clear away"?

Synonyms for "clear away" include "tidy up", "remove", and "get rid of". The best choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is "clear away" formal or informal?

"Clear away" is generally considered neutral in formality and is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The tone of your writing will depend more on the surrounding vocabulary.

What does it mean when the weather "clears away"?

When referring to weather, ""clear away"" means that clouds, rain, or other inclement conditions are gradually disappearing, leading to better weather.