clearing out 1 of 2

noun

as in withdrawal

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clearing out

2 of 2

verb

present participle of clear out
1
as in dispersing
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart police used tear gas to clear out the demonstrators

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation everyone cleared out as soon as the fire alarm began sounding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in departing
to leave a place often for another the lunch crowd usually clears out by 2:00 p.m. at the latest

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of clearing out
Verb
Smoke from wildfires may lower air quality during the day, clearing out overnight as the storm system moves in. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026 His team began clearing out an informal dump site, eventually transforming it into a community garden. — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2026 The Call Her Daddy host, who is pregnant with her first child, has been clearing out other expectant moms' baby registries on social media. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026 Residents have begun clearing out their homes and dragging debris to the end of their driveways as Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office personnel remain in the area, assessing the damage. — Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 17 Aug. 2026 Parents showed up at Walmart in Hollywood, loading up on school supplies and clearing out shelves ahead of the start of school this week. — Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 High pressure limits winds near the surface, which prevents the smoke from clearing out. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 The company must also sanitize the freezer within seven days of clearing out remaining food waste. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 Penny had seen ads for his company, which specializes in working with senior citizens overwhelmed by the downsizing process and the prospect of clearing out and fixing up their houses to sell. — Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 24 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clearing out
  1. withdrawal
  2. dispersing
  3. escaping
  4. departing
  5. retirement
  6. fleeing
  7. exiting
  8. egress
Noun
  • The succession of scandals sparked an open discussion in the country about her suitability to the role of Queen, with some experts even laying out possible options for her withdrawal from royal duties.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Other possible complications include liver disease, allergic reactions, low blood pressure, and, when abruptly discontinued, withdrawal symptoms.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of withdrawal
Verb
  • The Retired Police Canine Foundation was selected as the recipient of these funds and is in charge of dispersing them to handlers across the state.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Open clusters are young clusters of stars that were born together and are now gradually dispersing, and Auriga’s open clusters are some of the best and brightest of their kind in the night sky.
    — Gemma Lavender, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of dispersing
Verb
  • This is because the material that serves as the building blocks for planets is constantly escaping the swirling platters of gas and dust, or protoplanetary disks, that wrap around infant stars.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fuller’s ideas are hard to summarize, but always seem to reach toward a utopian vision of escaping the drudgery of everyday life.
    — Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of escaping
Verb
  • Sima Sistani, who led WeightWatchers for close to three years before departing in 2024, is launching Liberation of Flowers, inspired by her Persian roots.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held what was expected to be her final gaggle outside the West Wing on Thursday, her last day on the job before departing the role.
    — Natalie Allison, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of departing
Noun
  • The news comes after Stern struck a new three year-contract with SiriusXM amid rumors of a retirement, or a show cancellation, which Stern pranked his listeners about by suggesting that Andy Cohen would take over his channel.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Benefits include health insurance, dental and life insurance and retirement benefits, Eagan said.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of retirement
Verb
  • Surveillance video from the Cedar Glenn complex showed Brunson, Newman, and another unnamed co-defendant jumping a fence, approaching a Chevrolet Suburban, and fleeing after being confronted by a witness.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Horrifying surveillance video circulating online shows people fleeing before the mudslide hits and a deluge crashes down on them.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of fleeing
Verb
  • Shortly after exiting, Hawley complained of feeling lightheaded before slumping to the ground and going unconscious.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Brazell was shot shortly after exiting an AC Transit bus near Lakeshore Avenue and Mandana Boulevard.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of exiting
Noun
  • Some have indentations meant to gather rainwater, and some have multiple points of entry and egress, all of which the rats apparently appreciate.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Crossover also adds a new off-road-ready electric step for easier ingress and egress.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of egress

Browse Nearby Words

clearing off
clearing out
clearings
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Cite this Entry

“Clearing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clearing%20out. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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