sweeping

1 of 2

noun

sweep·​ing ˈswē-piŋ 

1

: the act or action of one that sweeps

gave the room a good sweeping

2

sweepings plural : things collected by sweeping : refuse

sweeping

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area

b

: having a curving line or form

2

a

: extensive

sweeping reforms

b

: marked by wholesale and indiscriminate inclusion

sweeping generalities

sweepingly adverb

sweepingness noun

Synonyms of sweeping

Adjective

• broad
• extensive
• wide
• deep
• expansive
• extended

Examples of sweeping in a Sentence

Noun

The porch needs a good sweeping.

Adjective

a sweeping view of the valley

He dismissed the idea with a sweeping motion of his arm.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After the second sip of bourbon comes the second sip of wine, which this time is a lot more complex, with some of the earthy and smokey flavors of the bourbon sweeping into the wine profile. —Noelle Alviz-Gransee february 12, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2026

The precision of the stone throw, the careful sweeping. —Paolo Armelli, Wired News, 9 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Now, due largely to Trump’s policies, notably his sweeping taxes on imports and his crackdown on immigration, the world is much different. —Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026

The Gotham Organization now seeks to blow up these commitments through a sweeping rezoning that would remove the park designation, narrow the public walkway, and permit 56-story and 41-story luxury towers flush against the park on the MTA land, which the agency tentatively has agreed to lease. —Katherine Thompson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sweeping

• sweeping victory

Rhymes for sweeping

• beeping
• creeping
• heaping
• keeping
• leaping
• peeping
• reaping
• seeping
• sleeping
• steeping
• weeping
• beekeeping

Kids Definition

sweeping

1 of 2 noun

sweep·​ing

1

: the act or action of one that sweeps

2

plural : things collected by sweeping

sweeping

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area

b

: having a curving line or form

2

: broad sense 5

sweeping reforms

sweeping generalizations

sweepingly

ˈswē-piŋ-lē

adverb