mopped up; mopping up; mops up
1
British
: to consume eagerly
2
: to gather as if by absorbing
3
: to overcome decisively : trounce
4
: to clear (an area) of remaining pockets of resistance in the wake of a military offensive
: to complete a project, transaction, or task
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
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Wilson never saw action as starter Bo Nix played every meaningful snap and backup Jarrett Stidham handled the limited mop-up duty.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Cybersecurity is not just about avoiding penalties or mopping up after a breach.
—Craig Burland, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mop-up
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Noun
Fire crews were also actively engaged in mop-up efforts, searching for any remaining hotspots or burning materials along the perimeter of the fire.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Wilson never saw action as starter Bo Nix played every meaningful snap and backup Jarrett Stidham handled the limited mop-up duty.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
Crews are also engaged in mopping up, addressing hot spots, and back-hauling equipment on the eastern, southern, and western sides of the fire.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Cybersecurity is not just about avoiding penalties or mopping up after a breach.
—Craig Burland, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
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 16 Sep. 2025.
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