clear away

phrasal verb

cleared away; clearing away; clears away

: to remove (something) from an area or surface

Just give me a moment to clear all these papers away, then we can sit down at the table.

—sometimes used figuratively

They had a long talk and were able to clear away all their misunderstandings.

Examples of clear away in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To clear away allergens and buildup, vacuum the empty shelves using a brush attachment, starting at the top and working your way down. —

Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2024 Just five months later, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which cleared away many of the barriers that blocked Black people from voting in the South. —

Greg Jaffe, Washington Post, 26 May 2024 Forest fires clear away deadwood to promote new growth; decisive defeat in war creates space for societal transformations. —

Todd Pittinsky, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2024 The trial lasted nearly two months, during which prosecutors alleged that Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell had gotten rid of their respective family members to clear away any obstacles that might impede their relationship. —

Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 30 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for clear away

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clear away.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.