adv · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈklɪɚli/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈklɪəli/
Scotland:/ˈkliːɹli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)li
CMU ARPABET:K L IH1 R L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a clear manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: manner
Examples
He enunciated every syllable clearly.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Without a doubt; obviously.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: modal
Examples
Clearly, the judge erred in his opinion.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
To a degree clearly discernible.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: degree
Examples
He was clearly wrong on all points but one.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adverb
Meaning 4
without doubt or question
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they were clearly lost
history has clearly shown the folly of that policy
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adverb
Meaning 5
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
it's distinctly possible
I could clearly see myself in his situation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: distinctly
Antonyms: none provided
6
adverb
Meaning 6
in an intelligible manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the foreigner spoke to us quite intelligibly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: intelligibly, understandably
Antonyms: none provided
7
adverb
Meaning 7
in an easily perceptible manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
could be seen clearly under the microscope
She cried loud and clear
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: clear
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English clerli, clerely, clerelych, cleerliche, clerliche. By surface analysis, clear + (adverbial) -ly.
Across languages
Translations
66 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Albanian:
qartë
— in a clear manner
Bulgarian:
ясно
(jasno)
— in a clear manner
Bulgarian:
очевидно
(očevidno)
— in a clear manner
Catalan:
clarament
— in a clear manner
Czech:
jasně
— in a clear manner
Danish:
tydelig
— in a clear manner
Danish:
evident
— in a clear manner
Danish:
indlysende
— in a clear manner
Danish:
klart
— in a clear manner
Dutch:
duidelijk
— in a clear manner
Esperanto:
klare
— in a clear manner
Finnish:
selvästi
— in a clear manner
French:
clairement
— in a clear manner
Friulian:
clâr
— in a clear manner
Galician:
claramente
— in a clear manner
Georgian:
ნათლად
(natlad)
— in a clear manner
German:
klar
— in a clear manner
German:
deutlich
— in a clear manner
Gothic:
𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌷𐍄𐌰𐌱𐌰
(bairhtaba)
— in a clear manner
Greek:
καθαρά
(kathará)
— in a clear manner
Greek:
ξεκάθαρα
(xekáthara)
— in a clear manner
Greek:
σαφώς
(safós)
— in a clear manner
Hungarian:
világosan
— in a clear manner
Hungarian:
tisztán
— in a clear manner
Hungarian:
érthetően
— in a clear manner
Ingrian:
selkiäst
— in a clear manner
Italian:
chiaramente
— in a clear manner
Latin:
disertim
— in a clear manner
Macedonian:
јасно
(jasno)
— in a clear manner
Malayalam:
വ്യക്തമായി
(vyaktamāyi)
— in a clear manner
Polish:
wyraźnie
— in a clear manner
Portuguese:
claramente
— in a clear manner
Russian:
я́сно
(jásno)
— in a clear manner
Russian:
чётко
(čótko)
— in a clear manner
Spanish:
claramente
— in a clear manner
Spanish:
a ojos vista
— in a clear manner
Spanish:
a ojos vistas
— in a clear manner
Telugu:
తేటగా
(tēṭagā)
— in a clear manner
Tocharian B:
apākri
— in a clear manner
Ukrainian:
я́сно
(jásno)
— in a clear manner
Albanian:
dukshëm
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Bulgarian:
несъмнено
(nesǎmneno)
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Dutch:
duidelijk
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Dutch:
klaar
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Galician:
claramente
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Greek:
σαφώς
(safós)
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Hungarian:
nyilván
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Hungarian:
nyilvánvalóan
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Italian:
certamente
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Norwegian Bokmål:
tydeligvis
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Polish:
wyraźnie
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Portuguese:
claro
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Russian:
очеви́дно
(očevídno)
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Russian:
явно
(javno)
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Sanskrit:
प्रकटम्
(prakaṭam)
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Spanish:
claramente
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Spanish:
por lo claro
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Ukrainian:
очеви́дно
(očevýdno)
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Ukrainian:
безсумні́вно
(bezsumnívno)
— (modal) without a doubt, obviously
Galician:
claramente
— (degree) to a degree clearly discernible
Greek:
σαφώς
(safós)
— (degree) to a degree clearly discernible
Hungarian:
láthatóan
— (degree) to a degree clearly discernible
Hungarian:
egyértelműen
— (degree) to a degree clearly discernible
Italian:
evidentemente
— (degree) to a degree clearly discernible
Portuguese:
claramente
— (degree) to a degree clearly discernible
Volapük:
kleiliko
— (degree) to a degree clearly discernible