clarify
verb
clar·i·fy ˈkler-ə-ˌfī 
ˈkla-rə-
clarified; clarifying
transitive verb
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
intransitive verb
: to become clear
waiting for the present muddled diplomatic situation to clarify 
Newsweek
Newsweek clarification
ˌkler-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən
noun ˌkla-rə-
clarifier
ˈkler-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r
noun ˈkla-rə-
Synonyms
- clear
- distill
- distil
- filter
- fine
- garble
- purify
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 district did not clarify whether employees or their dependents had their Social Security numbers stolen. Beck Andrew Salgado, Journal Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting the nuclear power plant, though the IAEA report did not clarify who is responsible for the attacks on the ZNPP. Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 Stefanski did clarify to indicate the Browns were involved in the plan's formation. Chris Easterling, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2022 The company did not clarify whether the new benefits would be available to all 1.6 million US employees or only some workers. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 19 Aug. 2022 Despite unveiling the policy last week, administration officials have yet to clarify how the proposal will be paid for in the long term. Jessica Chasmar, Fox News, 29 Aug. 2022 The Treasury department did not respond to multiple requests to clarify who or what exactly has been sanctioned. Scott Nover, Quartz, 26 Aug. 2022 Ziebold, meanwhile, released a statement attempting to clarify the incident referenced by Jones. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2022 Days later, Kaul filed suit to challenge the ban, asking state courts to clarify whether the 173-year-old ban was still in place. Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2022 See More
Beck Andrew Salgado, Journal Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting the nuclear power plant, though the IAEA report did not clarify who is responsible for the attacks on the ZNPP. Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 Stefanski did clarify to indicate the Browns were involved in the plan's formation. Chris Easterling, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2022 The company did not clarify whether the new benefits would be available to all 1.6 million US employees or only some workers. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 19 Aug. 2022 Despite unveiling the policy last week, administration officials have yet to clarify how the proposal will be paid for in the long term. Jessica Chasmar, Fox News, 29 Aug. 2022 The Treasury department did not respond to multiple requests to clarify who or what exactly has been sanctioned. Scott Nover, Quartz, 26 Aug. 2022 Ziebold, meanwhile, released a statement attempting to clarify the incident referenced by Jones. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2022 Days later, Kaul filed suit to challenge the ban, asking state courts to clarify whether the 173-year-old ban was still in place. Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English clarifien, from Anglo-French clarifier, from Late Latin clarificare, from Latin clarus clear — more at clear
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3
Kids Definition
clarify
verb
clar·i·fy ˈkler-ə-ˌfī
clarified; clarifying
1
: to make or to become pure or clear
clarify a liquid
2
: to make or become more easily understood
clarify a statement
Medical Definition
clarify
verb
clar·i·fy ˈklar-ə-ˌfī
clarified; clarifying
transitive verb
: to make (as a liquid) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter
clarify sewage
intransitive verb
: to become clear
clarification
noun
as in explanation
a statement that makes something clear after that clarification, I find I actually agree with you Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- explanation
- interpretation
- illustration
- elucidation
- translation
- analysis
- explication
- definition
- construction
- exegesis
- reasoning
- exposition
- illumination
- comment
- restatement
- road map
- demonstration
- commentary
- paraphrase
- justification
- annotation
- deciphering
- meaning
- enlightenment
- rationale
- decoding
- edification
- caveat
- gloss
- warning
- rationalization
- enactment
- epexegesis
- disentanglement
- unscrambling
- caution