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
Instead, Ortiz was swept up in the league’s sports betting investigation and hasn’t pitched since late June.
—
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Strickland is acutely aware of how she's been swept up in the investigation — and the ongoing online chatter about the case — because of their fight the night that Trussell walked, alone, into the frigid darkness and then died.
—Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
However, many Americans have been critical of his immigration policy as individuals with misdemeanors, decades-old infractions or in some cases no criminal records at all have been swept up in the heightened enforcement.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Chefs rarely get swept up in the debauchery of Below Deck, but Bingham may be an exception.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweep up
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Zack Meisel, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Strickland is acutely aware of how she's been swept up in the investigation — and the ongoing online chatter about the case — because of their fight the night that Trussell walked, alone, into the frigid darkness and then died.
—Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
However, many Americans have been critical of his immigration policy as individuals with misdemeanors, decades-old infractions or in some cases no criminal records at all have been swept up in the heightened enforcement.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Chefs rarely get swept up in the debauchery of Below Deck, but Bingham may be an exception.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweep up
Cite this Entry
“Sweep up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweep%20up. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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