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Language Foundation

clear all

to remove or reset all current items, selections, or entered values in a set at the same time, leaving it empty or returned to its default state.

In plain English

It means acting on the whole current set in one step, not one item at a time. Everything that is presently chosen or entered is dealt with together. After that, nothing remains in the set, or it goes back to its default state.

In context

Here, "clear all" requests that all current filter selections be removed at the same time, leaving that set empty or returned to its default state.

Situation
Using dashboards, tables, filters, sorting, views, and bulk controls
What it communicates
requests removal of all current filter selections

Meaning limits

The term itself does not establish whether the result is simply empty or restored to preset defaults, because that depends on how the set is defined.

Examples

“She cleared all the selected dates instead of removing them one by one.”

Core meaning

“If the results look too narrow, clear all the current filters and run the search again.”

In context

  • clear Broader Term

    This sense is a more specific case of clearing, because it applies to the whole set rather than only part of it.

  • deselect all Narrower Term

    This is a special case limited to removing all selections, not all kinds of current items or values.