cleared

Cleared is the past participle of the verb clear and also an adjective. It describes something that has been freed from obstruction, purified, or officially authorized. The term appears across multiple contexts, often signaling completion of a process or the removal of a barrier.

In physical and environmental contexts, cleared often means removing obstacles or debris. A road, field, or path can be cleared of snow, rubble, or vegetation, making it passable or usable. In aviation and maritime settings, clearance is an official permission; pilots or captains may be cleared for takeoff, landing, or passage.

In legal and administrative domains, someone can be cleared of charges or suspicion, meaning they have been found not guilty or exonerated, and restrictions or holds can be cleared from records or accounts. The phrase can also indicate that a document or request has been approved or processed, such as being cleared for publication or release.

In finance and banking, funds or payments are said to have cleared once interbank systems finalize the transfer, after which the recipient can access the money. In computing, a memory location or register can be cleared by resetting it to a neutral state, typically zero or empty.

Etymology traces clear to Old English clǣrian, meaning to make clear or clean. Cleared, as the form of that verb, has come to describe implications of removal, authorization, or completion in diverse contexts.