Standard Lemma guide

clearness

noun · 6 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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  • rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)nəs
  • CMU ARPABET: K L IH1 R N AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Brightness, brilliancy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Mental or sensory distinctness; clarity of understanding, perception etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The state of being free from obscurities or opacity; distinctness of light, colour etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Examples

  • The clearness of the water meant I could still see the key lying on the river-bed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The state of being free from obstruction or interference.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Examples

  • The clearness of the path made for an easy hike.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

the quality of clear water

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • when she awoke the clarity was back in her eyes

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clarity, uncloudedness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: quality

Narrower terms: transparency, transparence, transparentness, translucence, translucency, semitransparency, visibility, distinctness, sharpness

6

noun

Meaning 6

free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clarity, lucidity, lucidness, pellucidity, limpidity

Antonyms: unclearness

Broader terms: comprehensibility, understandability

Narrower terms: monosemy, focus, preciseness, clearcutness, perspicuity, perspicuousness, plainness, unambiguity, unequivocalness, explicitness

History

Etymology

From Middle English clernesse; equivalent to clear + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: klareco — the state or measure of being clear
  • French: clarté — the state or measure of being clear
  • German: Klarheit — the state or measure of being clear
  • Greek: διαύγεια (diávgeia) — the state or measure of being clear
  • Greek: καθαρότητα (katharótita) — the state or measure of being clear
  • Irish: glaine — the state or measure of being clear
  • Irish: trédhearcacht — the state or measure of being clear
  • Irish: gile — the state or measure of being clear
  • Latin: claritudo — the state or measure of being clear
  • Latvian: skaidrība — the state or measure of being clear
  • Latvian: skaidrums — the state or measure of being clear
  • Latvian: dzidrums — the state or measure of being clear
  • Polish: jasność — the state or measure of being clear
  • Romanian: claritate — the state or measure of being clear
  • Romanian: limpeziciune — the state or measure of being clear
  • Spanish: claridad — the state or measure of being clear
  • Ottoman Turkish: شفافلق (şeffaflık) — the state or measure of being clear