Definition of sweep
swept
play \ˈswept\;sweeping
transitive verb
1a : to remove from a surface with or as if with a broom or brush swept the crumbs from the tableb : to destroy completely : wipe out —usually used with away everything she cherished, might be swept away overnight — Louis Bromfieldc : to remove or take with a single continuous forceful action swept the books off the deskd : to remove from sight or consideration the problem can't be swept under the ruge : to drive or carry along with irresistible force a wave of protest that swept the opposition into office
2a : to clean with or as if with a broom or brushb : to clear by repeated and forcible actionc : to move across or along swiftly, violently, or overwhelmingly fire swept the business district — Amer. Guide Series: Md.d : to win an overwhelming victory in or on sweep the electionse : to win all the games or contests of sweep a double-header sweep a series
3 : to touch in passing with a swift continuous movement
4 : to trace or describe the locus or extent of (something, such as a line, circle, or angle)
5 : to cover the entire range of his eyes swept the horizon
intransitive verb
1a : to clean a surface with or as if with a broomb : to move swiftly, forcefully, or devastatingly the wind swept through the treetops
2 : to go with stately or sweeping movements proudly swept into the room
3 : to move or extend in a wide curve or range
sweep one off one's feet
sweep the board
orsweep the table
Explore M-W
Examples of sweep in a Sentence
He swept the dirt off the driveway.
He swept the crumbs from the table.
I need to sweep the kitchen.
Are you finished sweeping the porch?
A storm swept across the plains.
Fires swept through the forest.
She proudly swept into the room.
The limo swept up to the door.
He swept the curtains aside.
She swept the books off the desk.
Recent Examples of sweep from the Web
-
Historians estimate that during the 1840s, the medium’s first decade, as cholera swept through Britain and America, photographers recorded deaths and marriages by a ratio of three to one.
-
Following in the footsteps of last August’s sweeping Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the Creators Update tweaks and tunes the core Windows 10 experience while heaping on a pile of handy all-new features.
-
Sidewalk scenes of moving boxes and brightly colored eviction notices have become the most visible traces of an affordable-housing crisis that has swept through every American county.
-
Over the past few years, a menstruation movement—spearheaded largely by female activists, many of them millennials—has swept the U.S., aiming to destigmatize periods and bring safer products to women and girls everywhere.
-
The three fires exploded in October 2007 as searing temperatures and gusty winds swept across the backcountry.
-
Yet so far his administration has taken sweeping steps to revoke legal protections for LGBTQ Americans.
-
The state was always culturally conservative, religious, and militaristic, but a strain of pragmatism kept it from being fully swept up in racism and right-wing ideology.
-
Some predict the return of a low-level insurgency much as before IS swept control in June 2014.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sweep.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of sweep
Middle English swepen; akin to Old English swāpan to sweep, Old High German sweifen to wander
sweep
Definition of sweep
1 : something that sweeps or works with a sweeping motion: such asa : a long pole or timber pivoted on a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a wellb : a triangular cultivator blade that cuts off weeds under the soil surfacec : a windmill sail
2a : an instance of sweeping; especially : a clearing out or away with or as if with a broomb : the removal from the table in one play in casino of all the cards by pairing or combiningc : an overwhelming victoryd : a winning of all the contests or prizes in a competitione : a wide-ranging search of an area (as by police)
3a : a movement of great range and forceb : a curving or circular course or linec : the compass of a sweeping movement : scoped : a broad unbroken area or extent a sweep of wildflowerse : an end run in football in which one or more linemen pull back and run interference for the ballcarrier
4 : chimney sweep
5 : sweepstakes
6 : obliquity with respect to a reference line sweep of an airplane wing; especially : sweepback
7 sweeps plural : a television ratings period during which surveys are taken to determine advertising rates
Examples of sweep in a Sentence
Mrs. Griswold has been a teacher for so long that the sweep of her influence extends across three generations of the townspeople.
Recent Examples of sweep from the Web
-
The Republican sweep of these contests—in Kansas, Montana, Georgia, and South Carolina, where Trump tapped House members to join his Cabinet—does have some tangible consequences.
-
Brown went 16-29, 6-14 in the Ivy League with a doubleheader sweep of Yale to end the season.
-
The Indians were already in the midst of a wonderful season, having tallied a 20-6 record to that point that included a second-place finish in the Pacific League and the program’s first sweep of stalwart Crescenta Valley this century.
-
Coming off a three-game sweep at Baltimore that lifted them to a majors-best 14-5 on the road, the Twins dropped to 11-14 at home.
-
A U.S. senator is pressing the National Security Agency for information about whether any security sweeps for listening or recording devices were conducted after Donald Trump met with senior Russian officials in the Oval Office earlier this month.
-
That Newton will accept the changes in Carolina’s offense, flip the ball short to McCaffrey, hand it to Samuel on jet sweeps, and do everything in his power to add 10 percentage points to his horrendous 52.9-percent accuracy last year.
-
After reaching as high as fourth in the national rankings and being in the discussions for a national seed in the NCAA Tournament, Auburn has been mired in a season-long seven-game skid following a series sweep at the hands of LSU.
-
The speech set the ambitious plan against the sweep of Chinese history.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sweep.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of sweep
First Known Use of sweep
1548
Synonym Discussion of sweep
SWEEP Defined for English Language Learners
sweep
playDefinition of sweep for English Language Learners
-
: to remove (something, such as dust or dirt) from a surface with a broom or brush or with a quick movement of your hand, fingers, etc.
-
: to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) with a broom or brush
-
: to move or pass quickly, forcefully, or smoothly
sweep
Definition of sweep for English Language Learners
-
: an act of cleaning an area with a broom or brush
-
: a long, smooth movement often in a wide curve
-
: a large area of land often forming a wide curve
SWEEP Defined for Kids
Definition of sweep for Students
swept
\ˈswept\;sweeping
1 : to remove with a broom or brush Please sweep up the dirt.
2 : to clean by removing loose dirt or small trash with a broom or brush I need to sweep the floor.
3 : to move over or across swiftly often with force or destruction Fire swept the village.
4 : to move or gather as if with a broom or brush I swept the money from the table.
5 : to move the eyes or an instrument through a wide curve They swept the hill for some sign of the enemy.
6 : to touch a surface of quickly The musician's fingers swept the piano keys.
7 : to drive along with steady force Debris was swept away by the tide.
8 : to become suddenly very popular throughout It's a show that is sweeping the nation.
sweeper
nounDefinition of sweep for Students
1 : a curving movement, course, or line I brushed it away with a sweep of my hand.
2 : an act or instance of cleaning with a broom or brush
3 : a wide stretch or curve of land
4 : something that sweeps or works with a sweeping motion
5 : a complete or easy victory
6 : 1range 2, scope The island was outside the sweep of our vision.
7 : chimney sweep
Learn More about sweep
-
See words that rhyme with sweep Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sweep Spanish Central: Translation of sweep Nglish: Translation of sweep for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sweep for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sweep
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up sweep? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!