sweep up

phrasal verb

swept up; sweeping up; sweeps up

1

: to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) by using a broom or brush

When I was sweeping up, I found an earring that I had lost.

Can you please sweep up the porch?

2

: to remove (something, such as dust, dirt, etc.) from a surface by using a broom or brush

She swept up the broken glass.

3

: to pick up (someone or something) in one quick, continuous motion

She swept the baby up and carried her to the crib.

4

: to brush or pull (hair) away from the face

—usually used as be swept up

Her hair was swept up in a bun.

Examples of sweep up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a balance to be found and not getting too swept up in what the concert itself does because there’s just so many incredible moments. —Okla Jones, Essence, 20 May 2024

The film, which premiered at SXSW and launched on Prime video on May 2, follows a 40-year-old single mom (Hathaway) who is swept up in whirlwind romance with a 24-year-old pop star (Galitzine). —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 14 May 2024

Meghan let the necklace shine by wearing it with a St. Agni white strapless column linen dress and her hair swept up to the event at the Defense Headquarters Officers Mess. 05 of 07 Day 2 Outfit change! —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024

But dammit if we didn’t get swept up in this sentimental crowd-pleaser, which is loosely inspired by Alicia Keys’ formative years and pulls from her catalog of songs. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024

Last month, a 19-year-old man went missing in the Trinity River near Hoopa after he and another person attempted to rescue a girl who was swept up in the current. —Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024

There are definitely two sides to the coin of getting swept up in our show’s release for sure. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 May 2024

Narrowly winning that battle last month, Himes and Turner worked to kill an amendment that would have forced FBI employees to get search warrants before reviewing the communications of Americans swept up by the program. —Dell Cameron and William Turton, WIRED, 8 May 2024

For laughs, watch Eddie Murphy's wise-cracking cop shake up Southern California once more in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Want to get, uh, swept up in adventure? —Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 4 May 2024