clarify

1 of 2

verb

clar·​i·​fy ˈkler-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce clarify (audio)
ˈkla-rə-
clarified; clarifying
Synonyms of clarify

transitive verb

1
: to make understandable
clarify a subject
The president was forced to clarify his position on the issue.
2
: to free of confusion
needs time to clarify his thoughts
3
: to make (a liquid or something liquefied) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter
clarify syrup

intransitive verb

: to become clear
… waiting for the present muddled diplomatic situation to clarify …—Newsweek
clarification
ˌkler-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce clarify (audio)
ˌkla-rə-
noun
clarifier
ˈkler-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce clarify (audio)
ˈkla-rə-
noun

clarification

2 of 2

noun

clar·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌkler-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce clarification (audio)
ˌkla-rə-
plural -s
: the act or process of clarifying

Synonyms of clarify

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of clarify in a Sentence

Verb Can you clarify exactly what it is you're proposing? Her explanation did not clarify matters much. The president was forced to clarify his position on the issue. The committee clarified the manager's duties. a substance used to clarify wine
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
If the teams refuse to enroll the players who benefit from the TRO, those players could petition Hoffman to clarify that his order also blocks the SEC from punishing schools. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Share the priority, clarify the timeline, and keep your tone steady. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026 The hearing went by with little to no contention as discussions from city councilors was mostly clarifying questions on financial details. — Gabriel Brito, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Aug. 2026 The affidavit doesn’t clarify what started the argument, but Abrams was accused of later trying to run the other woman off the road. — Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clarify

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English clarifien, from Anglo-French clarifier, from Late Latin clarificare, from Latin clarus clear — more at clear

Noun

French or Late Latin; French, from Late Latin clarification-, clarificatio glorification, from clarificatus (past participle of clarificare) + Latin -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of clarify was in the 14th century

Rhymes for clarify

See All Rhymes for clarify

Browse Nearby Words

clarifier
clarify
clarifying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clarify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clarify. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clarify

verb
clar·​i·​fy ˈklar-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce clarify (audio)
clarified; clarifying
1
: to make or become pure or clear
clarify a liquid
2
: to make or become easier to understand
clarify a statement
clarification
ˌklar-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce clarify (audio)
noun
clarifier
ˈklar-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce clarify (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

clarify

verb
clar·​i·​fy ˈklar-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce clarify (audio)
clarified; clarifying

transitive verb

: to make (as a liquid) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter
clarify sewage

intransitive verb

: to become clear
clarification
ˌklar-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce clarify (audio)
noun
clarifier
ˈklar-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce clarify (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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