sweep up

phrasal 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

For at that very moment, the barn door swung open, and snow swept up in a furious fashion. —Lauren Ashley Bishop, Variety, 4 Jan. 2026

His childhood best friend and sometimes-lover, Rachel Mizler (Odessa A’zion), gets swept up in his hijinks, as does his temperamental foil of a friend, Wally (Tyler the Creator). —Alexandra Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2026

Clean the storage unit, wiping up any spills and sweeping up trash and debris. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026

Zients was one of over a dozen Biden administration officials to be swept up in the investigation. —Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for sweep up

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