sweep away
phrasal verb
swept away; sweeping away; sweeps away
: to destroy or remove (something) completely
Floods swept away several houses.
His performance today swept away any doubts about his ability to play.
Examples of sweep away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Nikumaroro theory suggests that Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, landed on the island’s reef before their plane was swept away.
—
Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Classic Accessories Veranda Patio Umbrella Cover Even your patio umbrella needs protection to keep it from being swept away during windy days.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Those killed included at least 37 people in the eastern mountain district of Illam, where whole villages were swept away by landslides, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.
—CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Thirty-five people died in separate landslides in the eastern Ilam district near the Indian border, while others remain missing after being swept away by floodwaters, per Reuters.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweep away
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Classic Accessories Veranda Patio Umbrella Cover Even your patio umbrella needs protection to keep it from being swept away during windy days.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Those killed included at least 37 people in the eastern mountain district of Illam, where whole villages were swept away by landslides, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.
—CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Thirty-five people died in separate landslides in the eastern Ilam district near the Indian border, while others remain missing after being swept away by floodwaters, per Reuters.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweep away
Cite this Entry
“Sweep away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweep%20away. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share