mop up
verb
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
Recent Examples on the Web
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
All trails south and west of DC-5 (the service road through the middle of the park) remain closed while fire crews are mopping up the Bear Creek Fire.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
None of this mopped up the air.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mop up
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Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
Get this deal before it gets mopped up.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
All trails south and west of DC-5 (the service road through the middle of the park) remain closed while fire crews are mopping up the Bear Creek Fire.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
None of this mopped up the air.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 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%20up. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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