clear out

2 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 empty a place by removing things you don't want B2
  2. 2 leave a place quickly (informal) B2
1 clear sth out

empty a place by removing things you don't want

B2

What does "clear out" mean in this sense?

To clear out a place means to go through it and remove everything you no longer want or need, often throwing things away or giving them to others. It suggests a thorough process of emptying a space rather than just tidying — you are actively getting rid of things, not simply organising them. This phrasal verb is commonly used in domestic contexts such as dealing with a garage full of old boxes, a wardrobe packed with clothes that no longer fit, or a shed full of broken tools. It often happens at particular life moments: before moving house, during a spring clean, or after someone has passed away. In British English, the noun form 'a clear-out' is especially common — you might hear someone say 'I'm having a big clear-out this weekend.'

Examples

How to use it

clear out + place/object

The most common structure: the place or collection of things being emptied follows the particle directly.

They spent the whole weekend clearing out the basement — it was full of things from the 1990s.

clear + noun + out

The object can also be placed between the verb and the particle, especially with shorter noun phrases.

She decided to clear the attic out before putting the house on the market.

clear + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle — never after 'out'.

The garage was completely full, so they cleared it out over two days.

be cleared out

The passive form works naturally when the focus is on the space itself rather than on who did the work.

The old storage room has been cleared out and will be used as a meeting space.

have a clear-out

This noun phrase construction is very natural in British English and refers to the whole activity of clearing out a space.

I'm having a clear-out this Saturday — do you want to come and take any of my old books?

Common Collocations

clear out the garageclear out old clothesclear out cupboardsclear out the atticclear out clutterhave a clear-out

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placed after the particle

When you use a pronoun as the object, it must go between 'clear' and 'out'. Putting it after 'out' is ungrammatical in English.

✗ I need to clear out it before the new tenant arrives.
✓ I need to clear it out before the new tenant arrives.
Confusing 'clear out' with 'clear up'

'Clear out' means removing and discarding unwanted items from a space, while 'clear up' means tidying or organising without necessarily throwing things away. Use 'clear out' when the emphasis is on getting rid of things.

✗ I cleared up the garage and threw away three bags of rubbish.
✓ I cleared out the garage and threw away three bags of rubbish.
Using 'clear out' for a single discarded item

'Clear out' refers to working through a whole space and removing things in general. When you're talking about getting rid of one specific item, 'throw out' or 'get rid of' is more natural.

✗ I cleared out my old broken printer last week.
✓ I threw out my old broken printer last week. / I cleared out my office last week.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and used in everyday British and American English. In British English, the noun form 'a clear-out' is very common — for example, 'I'm having a clear-out this weekend'.

2 clear out

leave a place quickly (informal)

B2

Sense 2: What does "clear out" mean?

To 'clear out' means to leave a place quickly, usually because you have been told to or because something urgent has happened. It often implies a group of people departing rapidly under pressure — from authority figures like police or security, or from a sudden change in circumstances. The phrase carries a sense of urgency and is frequently used in commands ('Clear out!') or in reported speech ('We were told to clear out'). It works in both British and American English and fits naturally into informal conversation and storytelling. What makes it distinctive is that no object follows it — the focus is purely on the act of leaving, not on removing anything.

Examples

How to use it

subject + clear out

The most common structure: a person or group leaves a place quickly, with no object needed.

When the alarm went off, everyone cleared out within minutes.

tell / order / ask + someone + to clear out

Very frequently, an authority figure instructs others to leave — use 'tell', 'order', or 'ask' before the person and 'to clear out' after.

The security guard told the group to clear out before the event started.

clear out + of + place

You can specify the location being left by adding 'of' and the place — this is still intransitive.

The staff cleared out of the building as soon as the announcement was made.

have to / need to + clear out

Modal constructions with 'have to' or 'need to' are natural when expressing obligation or urgency.

We had to clear out fast when the storm started moving towards the coast.

clear out + adverb (immediately / fast / now)

Adverbs like 'immediately', 'fast', or 'now' are common reinforcers of the urgency this phrase already implies.

The coach told the players to clear out immediately after the game.

Common Collocations

told to clear outordered to clear outclear out immediatelyclear out of the buildingeveryone cleared outhad to clear out

Common Mistakes

Confusing the two senses of 'clear out'

When 'clear out' is followed by a direct object (a place or container), it means to empty or tidy that space — not to leave it. Without an object, it means to leave quickly. The presence or absence of an object is the key signal.

✗ We cleared out the office because the manager told us to. (if you mean 'we left')
✓ We cleared out of the office because the manager told us to.
Using 'from' instead of 'of' with a location

When specifying the place being left, 'clear out' pairs with 'of', not 'from'. 'From' is not the natural preposition in this construction.

✗ Everyone cleared out from the venue when the power went off.
✓ Everyone cleared out of the venue when the power went off.
Using it in formal or written contexts

'Clear out' in this sense is informal and suits spoken English or casual narratives. In formal writing — reports, official notices, academic texts — a phrase like 'evacuate', 'vacate the premises', or 'leave the area' would be more appropriate.

Usage

This phrasal verb is informal and most natural in spoken English or informal writing. It is used in both British and American English and often appears in commands or reported speech involving authority figures telling a group to leave urgently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'clear out' always involve throwing things away?

Not necessarily — the core meaning is emptying a space of unwanted or excess items, but those things might be donated, sold, or given to someone rather than thrown in the bin. The emphasis is on removing things from the space, whatever you do with them afterwards.

Can 'clear out' be used without an object?

Yes, in natural speech you can say something like 'I've been clearing out all morning' where the specific space is obvious from context. This isn't a different meaning — it just means the object is implied rather than stated.

Does 'clear out' have another meaning? I've heard it used as a command.

Yes — 'Clear out!' as an imperative means 'go away' or 'leave immediately', and it has no object. The sense on this page is different: it always involves a place or things being emptied, so if there's a transitive object, you're dealing with this sense.

Is 'clear out' used more in British or American English?

The phrasal verb itself is used naturally in both British and American English. However, the noun form 'a clear-out' (as in 'I'm having a clear-out') is particularly common in British English — American speakers are more likely to say 'I'm doing a cleanout' or just 'I'm cleaning out the garage'.

What kinds of places or things can you 'clear out'?

It's most commonly used with domestic spaces — the attic, garage, wardrobe, spare room, shed, or basement — as well as workplace spaces like an office or filing system. You can also clear out specific collections of things, such as drawers, old files, or clutter. The common thread is that there's a large quantity of unwanted things being removed.

Does 'clear out' always involve a group of people, or can one person clear out?

One person can absolutely clear out — for example, 'She cleared out as soon as the argument started.' However, the phrase does often describe groups leaving together, especially when prompted by authority. It works equally well for individuals when the context implies urgency.

Can I use 'clear out' as a command on its own?

Yes — 'Clear out!' is a perfectly natural imperative on its own, often used by someone in authority wanting people to leave quickly. It sounds firm and direct, so it's best suited to situations where urgency or authority is being expressed.

Is there a difference between 'clear out' and 'get out'?

'Get out' is more immediate and confrontational — it's often directed at one person and can sound like an angry demand. 'Clear out' tends to suggest a wider group leaving and is more commonly associated with instructions from authority figures like police or security. Both are informal.

Can I use 'clear out' to talk about leaving a place permanently, like moving house?

Not really — 'clear out' in this sense focuses on a rapid, sudden departure, not a permanent move. If you want to talk about leaving a home for good, 'move out' is the more natural choice. 'Clear out' implies speed and urgency rather than a planned, long-term change.

Is 'clear out' more British or more American?

It's used in both British and American English, so you don't need to avoid it in either context. A similar expression, 'clear off', is more distinctly British and can sound ruder or more dismissive — 'clear out' is the safer, more internationally understood option.

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