diff --git a/IPython/core/display_functions.py b/IPython/core/display_functions.py
index 5b49faa..9f566b4 100644
--- a/IPython/core/display_functions.py
+++ b/IPython/core/display_functions.py
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ def display(*objs, include=None, exclude=None, metadata=None, transient=None, di
         Set an id for the display.
         This id can be used for updating this display area later via update_display.
         If given as `True`, generate a new `display_id`
+    clear : bool, optional
+        Should the output area be cleared before displaying anything? If True,
+        this will wait for additional output before clearing. [default: False]
     kwargs: additional keyword-args, optional
         Additional keyword-arguments are passed through to the display publisher.
 
@@ -239,7 +242,8 @@ def display(*objs, include=None, exclude=None, metadata=None, transient=None, di
         print(*objs)
         return
 
-    raw = kwargs.pop('raw', False)
+    raw = kwargs.pop("raw", False)
+    clear = kwargs.pop("clear", False)
     if transient is None:
         transient = {}
     if metadata is None:
@@ -263,6 +267,9 @@ def display(*objs, include=None, exclude=None, metadata=None, transient=None, di
     if not raw:
         format = InteractiveShell.instance().display_formatter.format
 
+    if clear:
+        clear_output(wait=True)
+
     for obj in objs:
         if raw:
             publish_display_data(data=obj, metadata=metadata, **kwargs)