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
Newsweek
Examples 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
The document that came out today clarified both the above concerns.
—Simi Thambi, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that the 2024 figures use the state's diversity definitions and the previous years' use federal definitions.
—Asher Price, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
Exactly who will be targeted remains unclear because the incoming administration has not clarified all the points of its immigration initiatives, like whether immigrants will be able to maintain their current legal status as workers or asylum seekers.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 14 Nov. 2024
The trial in Ada County District Court seeks to clarify the medical exemptions in the laws.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clarify 
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Simi Thambi, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that the 2024 figures use the state's diversity definitions and the previous years' use federal definitions.
—Asher Price, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
Exactly who will be targeted remains unclear because the incoming administration has not clarified all the points of its immigration initiatives, like whether immigrants will be able to maintain their current legal status as workers or asylum seekers.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 14 Nov. 2024
The trial in Ada County District Court seeks to clarify the medical exemptions in the laws.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clarify
Dictionary Entries Near clarify
Cite this Entry
“Clarify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clarify. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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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