swoop

1 of 2

verb

ˈswüp 

swooped; swooping; swoops

intransitive verb

: to move with a sweep

transitive verb

: to gain or carry off in or as if in a swoop

—usually used with up

swooper noun

swoop

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act or instance of swooping

2

: a single concentrated and quickly effective effort

was done in one swoop

—often used with fell

solved everything at one fell swoop

Examples of swoop in a Sentence

Verb

The police swooped in and captured the criminals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

To that end, Chris Diamantopoulos looks like an inspired bit of casting as Mitch McNamara, a government agent who swoops in to examine eight dead Jasons and a ninth the police are holding in an interrogation room. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Netflix then swooped in to save the day, dropping a two-part fourth and final season, released to record ratings for the streamer. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026

Noun

Hop on the crossbody bag trend and add a pop of color to your outfit in one fell swoop with this purse. — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

Not unlike Margot Robbie, who, with that precise swoop of a Samantha Jones bob, was photographed this week in Paris wearing a corset top, a low-slung skirt and strappy Jude heels, with an Alaïa Le Teckel bag, for dinner with her parents and husband. — Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English swopen to sweep, from Old English swāpan — more at sweep

First Known Use

Verb

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swoop

• in/at one fell swoop

Rhymes for swoop

• coop
• coupe
• croup
• droop
• drupe
• dupe
• group
• hoop
• loop
• lupe
• oop
• poop

Kids Definition

swoop

1 of 2 verb

ˈswüp 

: to dive or pounce suddenly like a hawk on its prey

swoop

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of swooping

2

: a single quickly effective effort

—often used with fell

solved everything at one fell swoop