clarify
verb
clar·i·fy
ˈkler-ə-ˌfī 
ˈkla-rə-
clarified; clarifying
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
: to become clear
… waiting for the present muddled diplomatic situation to clarify …—
Newsweek
NewsweekExamples of clarify in a Sentence
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
Ask one clarifying question today, then respond with intention so the conversation leads somewhere useful.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
At Judges’ Table itself, a winner isn’t immediately identified; instead, the judges ask the teams a few clarifying questions and share what takeout diners thought.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Skeptics point out oral exams can be unsettling for students who are shy or have serious anxiety, but clarifying the format ahead of time and starting with softball questions can help, says Carolyn Aslan, who leads Cornell’s oral exam training.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The Core Legal Question The athletes’ attorneys seek a court order from Cousins to clarify the meaning of key settlement terms.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clarify
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Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
At Judges’ Table itself, a winner isn’t immediately identified; instead, the judges ask the teams a few clarifying questions and share what takeout diners thought.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Skeptics point out oral exams can be unsettling for students who are shy or have serious anxiety, but clarifying the format ahead of time and starting with softball questions can help, says Carolyn Aslan, who leads Cornell’s oral exam training.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The Core Legal Question The athletes’ attorneys seek a court order from Cousins to clarify the meaning of key settlement terms.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clarify
Cite this Entry
“Clarify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clarify. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clarify
verb
clar·i·fy
ˈklar-ə-ˌfī
clarified; clarifying
1
: to make or become pure or clear
clarify a liquid
2
: to make or become easier to understand
clarify a statement
Medical Definition
clarify
verb
clar·i·fy
ˈklar-ə-ˌfī
clarified; clarifying
: to make (as a liquid) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter
clarify sewage
: to become clear
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