get clearance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get clearance" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to obtaining permission or approval for something. Example: "Before starting the project, we need to get clearance from the management." Alternative expressions include "obtain approval" and "secure authorization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They couldn't get clearance to take off".

The New York Times

I have to get clearance from the Treasury.

The Guardian

"You will have to pay it all and get clearance.

The Guardian

"It was so much trouble to get clearance on anything.

Independent

Before I went a step further in my crusade, I had to get clearance.

The New York Times - Style

I know janitors who are immigrants with medical degrees (waiting to get clearance).

The Guardian

Her final thought: "An unusual way to get clearance, but it got them through".

The New York Times

"We will only stay away from a song if we can't get clearance".

The New York Times - Arts

"We never said he had to get clearance to write about an advertiser," she said.

The New York Times

He added: "If I wanted to kill Invincible, I wouldn't have to get clearance.

The New York Times - Books

She said there was no mandate that he get clearance from editors to write about advertisers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when referring to official, administrative, or medical contexts to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Writers often use "get clearance" without clarifying what is being cleared. For example, 'The pilot had to get clearance' is weaker than 'The pilot had to get clearance for takeoff'. Ensure the goal of the clearance is clear to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get clearance" functions as a transitive verb phrase consisting of the dynamic verb 'get' and the noun 'clearance' acting as the direct object. In the sentences provided by Ludwig, it frequently takes an infinitive complement (e.g. 'to take off') or a prepositional phrase (e.g. 'from the Treasury'). Ludwig AI indicates that this structure is grammatically standard and highly stable across various English dialects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

To "get clearance" is a fundamental English expression used to describe the act of obtaining official approval or permission. Analysis from Ludwig shows that this phrase is deeply embedded in professional and technical lexicons, particularly within aviation, medicine, and government bureaucracy. Because it appears in over 60 high-quality examples from sources like The New York Times and Harvard Health, its reliability and correctness are beyond doubt. Whether you are a pilot waiting for air traffic control or a patient waiting for a doctor's note, this phrase effectively captures the moment of receiving the necessary authorization to proceed. When writing, remember that specifying the source of the clearance (the 'who' or 'what') adds necessary clarity and maintains the professional tone that this phrase naturally carries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtain permission

Shifts the tone to be more formal and general.

secure approval

Implies a more active or competitive process of getting a 'yes'.

gain authorization

Commonly used in legal or technical security contexts.

receive the go-ahead

A more idiomatic and slightly less formal expression.

get the green light

Metaphorical and highly common in business and project management.

acquire consent

Specifically used when the approval relates to personal or medical data.

win endorsement

Suggests that the approval also carries a sense of support or advocacy.

seek validation

Focuses on the verification aspect rather than just the permission.

be granted a waiver

Specific to situations where an existing rule is being bypassed.

pass inspection

Focuses on the physical or technical review required to move forward.

FAQs

How to use "get clearance" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe obtaining official approval, such as: "The athlete needed to <a href="/s/get+clearance" target="_blank" rel="alternative">get clearance from her doctor before returning to the field."

What can I say instead of "get clearance"?

Depending on your context, you might use "<a href="/s/obtain+permission" target="_blank" rel="alternative">obtain permission", "<a href="/s/secure+approval" target="_blank" rel="alternative">secure approval", or "<a href="/s/gain+authorization" target="_blank" rel="alternative">gain authorization".

Which is more professional: "get clearance" or "get the green light"?

While "<a href="/s/get+the+green+light" target="_blank" rel="alternative">get the green light" is widely used in business, "get clearance" is generally considered more formal and appropriate for medical, military, or aviation reports.

Is "get clearance" only used for security?

No, it is versatile. It is frequently used in medical contexts (medical clearance), aviation (takeoff clearance), and business (budgetary or editorial clearance).