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

That logic is what leaves space for outsiders to swoop in and redefine the landscape. —Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

Sure, the media swooped in to tell her story, and the NFL rewarded her commitment with Super Bowl tickets. —Essence, 9 May 2025

Noun

This floor lamp achieves modern, earthy mood lighting in one fell swoop. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2025

This is the crowd-control class, where one use of the impactor can electrocute an entire group of Hiss in one fell swoop. —Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2025

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