Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not cleared; not rid of objects or obstructions: Describes an area or space that has not been made free of obstacles, debris, or unwanted growth.
   • Not processed or settled: In financial, legal, or administrative contexts, describes items (like checks, debts, goods, or legal statuses) that have not been officially processed, verified, or resolved.

Usage Examples

• Physical Obstruction:
  • The hikers struggled to walk through the uncleared forest path.
  • The airport runway remained uncleared after the storm, delaying all flights.
• Financial/Administrative:
  • The bank returned the uncleared check due to insufficient funds.
  • Uncleared goods must remain in the customs warehouse until all duties are paid.

Advanced Usage

• "uncleared balance": In banking, refers to funds from deposited checks that are not yet available for use because the transaction has not been fully processed by the financial system.
  • You cannot withdraw the money yet; it's still part of your uncleared balance.
• "uncleared suspicion" (figurative): A doubt or concern that has not been resolved or dispelled.
  • Despite his alibi, an uncleared suspicion lingered in the detective's mind.

Variants and Related Words

• Clear (verb): The base verb meaning to remove obstacles, to free from doubt, or to authorize and process.
  • They need to clear the fallen trees from the road.
  • The bank will clear the check in two business days.
• Cleared (adjective): The direct antonym, meaning freed from obstructions or officially processed.
  • The cleared field is ready for construction.
  • The payment has been cleared and is now complete.

Synonyms

• Obstructed: Blocked or clogged.
• Unprocessed: Not yet dealt with or finalized.
• Outstanding: Remaining to be paid or settled (often for debts).

Related Phrases

• "Land uncleared of mines": A specific phrase referring to land where explosive mines have not been removed.
  • The area was marked as dangerous, land uncleared of mines.
• "Uncleared for takeoff": An aviation phrase where a plane has not received final authorization to depart.
  • Flight 447 is still uncleared for takeoff due to air traffic.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary meaning relates to physical spaces (not cleared of objects).
• The secondary, specialized meaning applies to abstract processes in commerce and law (not cleared through official channels). The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

Adjective

1. not cleared; not rid of objects or obstructions
   • uncleared land
   • many cars were stuck in the snow on uncleared streets