range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.
the entire range of human experience
gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.
a performance that ran the gamut of emotions
compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.
your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study
sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.
the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity
scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.
as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened
orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.
within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change
Examples of sweep in a Sentence
Verb
He swept the dirt off the driveway.
He swept the crumbs from the table.
I need to sweep the kitchen.
Are you finished sweeping the porch?
A storm swept across the plains.
Fires swept through the forest.
She proudly swept into the room.
The limo swept up to the door.
He swept the curtains aside.
She swept the books off the desk. Noun
Mrs. Griswold has been a teacher for so long that the sweep of her influence extends across three generations of the townspeople.
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Verb
The Phillies were swept by just one team at home all season — the Brewers, in a series played more than four months ago.—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 Two months after historic floods swept through the Milwaukee area, new data shows that nearly 2,200 homes throughout Milwaukee County sustained major damage or were destroyed.—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber has a chance to lead his team to a sweep of the New York Yankees Tuesday night in the Bronx.—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 Brown is the best vertical threat on the team and is also elusive when he’s used in the screen game or receives jet sweeps.—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sweep
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English swepen; akin to Old English swāpan to sweep, Old High German sweifen to wander
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