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

So either the wedding will be long over, the confetti swept up, the guests all sent home with hangovers…or Bon Jovi will just plug in and keep the party going. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026

The step-on dustpan kept us from having to constantly bend over to sweep up crumbs, while the extra-wide brush head got into corners to save time. — Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 25 June 2026

On Saturday, Shakira performed her second consecutive night at the SAP Center in San Jose, amping up the World Cup fever even more in a region that is already been swept up in a soccer frenzy due to matches being held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 21 June 2026

These skills are useful for any sign, to be sure, but especially for a Fish who is easily swept up in their feelings. — Maressa Brown, Parents, 18 June 2026

Rhymes for sweep up

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