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

Geoff warns Ilya to moderate his projections, emphasizing the need for safeguards, but the idealistic Russian is swept up in the vast potential of AI — to solve the climate crisis, cure cancer, even save humanity from itself. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

On the final night, I am swept up in a parade through the Royal Promenade, wherein all of the performers from the aforementioned productions join forces. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Instead, the sheriff accelerated his plans, dispatching armed deputies from Riverside County’s Special Investigations Bureau, Emergency Response Team and SWAT unit to sweep up the votes. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Madame Peng Liyuan sported a navy Mandarin-style dress with pale pink at the neckline and her hair swept up in a chignon. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for sweep up

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