Spanish word

despejar

Pronunciation

IPA/despeˈxaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbresolve

Example

¿Me puedes despejar una duda sobre la tarea?

Can you resolve a doubt I have about the homework?

Illustration for despejar (resolve)

More examples

Salir a caminar me ayuda a despejar la mente.

Going for a walk helps me clear my mind.

Core concept

Blue sky revealed as clouds move away.

Common phrases

  • despejar dudas

    clear up doubts

  • despejar la mente

    clear one's mind

  • despejar la mesa

    clear the table

Similar words

quitar: Takes away an item to remove an obstruction or nuisance.
sacar: Takes something out from inside and moves it to the outside.
apartar: Moves something to the side to free up nearby space.
vaciar: Empties a container by removing all its contents until it is bare.

Definition in Spanish

Quitar obstáculos o coberturas para dejar libre un espacio, resolver una duda o hacer que el cielo quede claro.

Word origin

Built from des- ('undo, remove') combined with a root meaning 'to cover', originally 'remove a cover', later extended to clearing the sky, clearing space, or clearing up uncertainty.

Usage tips

  • When describing weather or natural change, Spanish often uses the reflexive se (El cielo se despejó) while actions by people take a direct object (Despejaron la carretera).

Other meanings

  • clarifyverb
  • clear awayverb
  • clearverb

Opposites

Related words

  • despejadosunnyadjective
  • despejamientoclearingnoun

Word lists with this word