have been cleared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been cleared" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when you want to describe a situation when something has been finished, accepted, or approved and allowed to move forward. For example, "The contractor's invoices have been cleared and all payments are up to date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Greer's name would have been cleared".

The New York Times

All five have been cleared.

The Guardian - Sport

Rights have been cleared for education use.

Princeton University

It could have been cleared up.

The New Yorker

The file cabinets have been cleared.

The New York Times - Tech

"All the slopes have been cleared".

The New York Times

How could he have been cleared?

The New York Times

All have been cleared of suspicion and released.

Independent

He never would have been cleared to play.

The New York Times

Some 106 have been cleared for eventual release.

The Economist

The half-dozen trees that came down have been cleared.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been cleared" to indicate that a process is complete, and no further action is required, like, 'All the documents have been cleared by legal department'.

Common error

Avoid using "have been cleared" when referring to an action that will happen in the future. Instead, use "will be cleared" or "are expected to be cleared".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been cleared" functions as a passive perfect construction. It indicates that a subject has undergone a process and is now in a state of being approved, authorized, or free from obstruction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been cleared" is a versatile and grammatically correct expression indicating that something has been authorized, resolved, or freed from obstacles. As Ludwig AI points out, it's appropriate for describing situations where a process is complete and no further action is needed. It is particularly common in news and media, academia and science contexts. When writing, it's important to use the correct tense and choose synonyms carefully to maintain the desired level of formality, for example have been authorized or have been approved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been authorized

Replaces 'cleared' with a focus on official permission or sanctioning.

have been approved

Emphasizes that something has met requirements and received a positive decision.

have been sanctioned

Implies a formal endorsement or authorization, often by an authority.

have been given the green light

An idiomatic expression meaning permission has been granted to proceed.

have been passed

Indicates a successful completion of a process or test.

have been resolved

Focuses on the completion of a problem or issue.

have been discharged

Suggests a release from duty, obligation, or confinement.

have been absolved

Implies forgiveness or exoneration from blame or responsibility.

have been exonerated

Specifically denotes being cleared of accusations or wrongdoing.

have been liberated

Conveys a sense of freedom from constraints or obstacles.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "have been cleared" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "have been authorized" or "have been approved", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "have been cleared" and "have been approved"?

"Have been cleared" generally means that an obstacle has been removed or a process has been completed. "Have been approved" specifically indicates that something has met the necessary criteria and received official endorsement.

When is it appropriate to use "have been cleared" in a sentence?

Use "have been cleared" when you want to indicate that something has been authorized to proceed or that a problem has been resolved. For example, "The shipment have been cleared by customs."

What are some common situations where I might use the phrase "have been cleared"?

You might use "have been cleared" in situations involving security checks, legal proceedings, project approvals, or medical clearances. Each use case typically means that a specific process has been finalized and the subject is free to move forward.