clarify

/ˌklɛrəˈfaɪ/

/ˈklærɪfaɪ/

Other forms: clarified; clarifying; clarifies

Clarify means to clear up confusion and make it all understandable. In a heart-breaking text, she clarified that she never ever wanted to see him again. It also means to remove impurities in a liquid; you clarify butter by gently heating it.

Clarify and clear are related, of course, and clear means you can see right through it. If you clarify your intention or your meaning, others will understand it clearly. If you aren't clear at the outset, you might find the need to clarify what you want later.

Definitions of clarify

1. verb

   make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating
   “clarify the butter”

   “clarify beer”

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
2. verb

   make clear and (more) comprehensible
   “clarify the mystery surrounding her death”

   synonyms: clear up, elucidate

   antonyms:

   obfuscate

   make obscure or unclear

   types:

   demystify

   make less mysterious or remove the mystery from

   clear, clear up, crystalise, crystalize, crystallise, crystallize, elucidate, enlighten, illuminate, shed light on, sort out, straighten out

   make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear

   dilate, elaborate, enlarge, expand, expatiate, exposit, expound, flesh out

   add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing

   disambiguate

   state unambiguously or remove ambiguities from

   detail

   provide details for

   exposit, expound, set forth

   state

   exemplify, illustrate, instance

   clarify by giving an example of

   particularise, particularize, specialise, specialize, specify

   be specific about

   type of:

   explain, explicate

   make plain and comprehensible