sweep up

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

Göktaş was just one among hundreds of people swept up ahead of this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, the Turkish capital. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 9 July 2026

The first wave of free agency swept up almost all the available Lakers players within hours. — Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Authorities also named two other criminal organizations that were swept up for similar charges over the course of the two-year investigation. — ABC News, 7 July 2026

Elliot Anderson swept up the second ball in midfield and laid a pass off to Morgan Rogers. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 30 June 2026

Rhymes for sweep up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup