clarify
verb
Simple meaning
To make something easier to understand.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
klehruhfySay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈklɛɹəfaɪ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
Make clear and (more) comprehensible
“Clarify the mystery surrounding her death.”
by extension
To make or become clear or easily understood; to explain or resolve in order to remove doubt or obscurity.
Make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating
ergativeof liquidssuch as wine or syrup
To make or become clear or bright by freeing from impurities or turbidity.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
This meaning: Make clear and (more) comprehensible
Used this way, clarify is a common word with a clearly warm, approving pull. It quietly approves while staying precise.
“Clarify the mystery surrounding her death.”
- Emotional tone
- Positive
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Gentle
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- Clear and precise
- Usage feel
- Precise and approving
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use clarify
- “Clarify the mystery surrounding her death.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Similar Words, What’s the Difference?
Close in meaning, but not always interchangeable.
Make clear and (more) comprehensible.
To make something clear to (someone).
To make spectacular.
To make something form into crystals.
To make straight.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Butter made clear by heating and removing the sediment of milk solids.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: make clear and (more) comprehensible
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.