mopped up; mopping up; mops up
1
British
: to consume eagerly
2
: to gather as if by absorbing
3
: to overcome decisively : trounce
mopped up their rivals
4
: to clear (an area) of remaining pockets of resistance in the wake of a military offensive
: to complete a project, transaction, or task
I'm almost done with the project. I just need a little time to mop up.
Examples of mop-up in a Sentence
Noun
the general announced that the remaining fighting would be only a mop-up to a war that was all but over
Recent Examples on the Web
Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Crews continue mop-up work, improving containment lines and assessments of hazard trees in the area, Backe said.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 20 May 2026
Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
Get this deal before it gets mopped up.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mop-up
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Noun
Though Watson has been used in mop-up situations and helped the bullpen in that way, sending down a stronger reliever in Samaniego just to keep Watson on the roster makes the bullpen weaker.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Crews continue mop-up work, improving containment lines and assessments of hazard trees in the area, Backe said.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 20 May 2026
Verb
Don't skip the crusty bread for mopping up every last bit.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
Get this deal before it gets mopped up.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mop-up
Cite this Entry
“Mop-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mop-up. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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