The invention provides an uplink clear channel assessment (CCA) detection method and apparatus, and a terminal. The method comprises: a time period of a sub frame for uplink CCA detection is determined, wherein an end time point of the time period is not later than a starting boundary of a starting OFDM symbol for sending uplink data of the sub frame, a starting time point of the time period is not earlier than starting boundaries of previous N OFDM symbols of the starting OFDM symbol for sending uplink data, and the N is a positive integer; and uplink CCA detection is carried out within the time period. Therefore, an effect that different user devices can carry out CCA detection successfully when a plurality of user devices are scheduled to a same sub frame for data sending is realized.