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

Drifting from place to place, swept up amid a roiling climate of anti-war protests, rebellion, free love, wild rock concerts, drugs and decadent parties, his desperate journey home becomes an awakening of heartbreak, loss and freedom. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026

The blue wave of congressional investigations may sweep up not only AI’s impact on fashion, but brands and retailers directly. — Kenya N. Wiley, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2026

Sneaker waves are sudden waves that can sweep up a beach much farther than expected, potentially washing beach-goers out to sea, the National Weather Service said. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin, both 56, were longtime Maui residents swept up in the idea of seeing the world from a residential cruise ship. — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2026

Rhymes for sweep up

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