What does cleared mean?
Cleared is the past tense and past participle of the verb "clear," one of English's most versatile action words. At its most basic, it describes having removed something — debris cleared from a road, dishes cleared from a table, doubts cleared from a mind. It also carries a crucial sense of authorization: a pilot is cleared for takeoff, a traveler is cleared through customs, an employee is cleared to handle sensitive information. This dual character makes the word useful across registers, from casual conversation to technical jargon in aviation, medicine, and finance. The verb derives ultimately from the Latin clarus, meaning bright or evident, the same root behind "clarify" and "clairvoyant." Because it signals resolution — an obstacle gone, a permission granted — "cleared" often connotes relief or progress, as when a patient is cleared by a doctor to return to activity.
verbPast tense and past participle of "clear": to remove obstructions, contents, or people from a space, or to gain approval or authorization to proceed.
- To have removed objects, people, or obstructions from an area (past tense of clear)
- To have obtained official approval or authorization, as in being cleared for duty, travel, or takeoff
- To have passed through a checkpoint such as customs or security without incident
- To have settled or freed oneself of debt or obligations
"The runway was finally cleared after the storm passed."
"The security team cleared the building before allowing anyone back inside."
"After months of vetting, she was finally cleared to access classified documents."
When air traffic control says a plane is 'cleared for takeoff,' they're using a word that traces back over eight centuries to the Latin clarus — the same root that gives us 'clarify' and even 'clairvoyant.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cleared
Cleared descends from the Old French adjective "cler" (modern "clair"), which entered English as "clear" in the Middle English period, around the thirteenth century. Both derive from the Latin "clarus," meaning bright, plain, or renowned. The verb sense — to make something transparent or free of obstruction — developed from this adjectival root, and its past form "cleared" has been standard since at least the early modern period. Cognates include "clarify," "clarion," and "clairvoyant," all tracing back to clarus.
Related word forms
How cleared is actually used
As an inflected form of the verb "clear," it is neutral in register and appears in both everyday and formal contexts. In aviation and military language, "cleared" carries a precise technical meaning of authorization, distinct from its everyday sense of physical removal.
Easily confused with cleared
"Cleared" means removed or authorized, while "cured" means healed or preserved.
"Cleaned" refers specifically to washing or tidying, whereas "cleared" more broadly means removing things from a space or obtaining approval.