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

Even a swooping hawk couldn’t resist perching on a tree overlooking the makeshift stage. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Scrape banana cream mixture on top of cake and spread out until nearly to edges, swooping and swirling decoratively. — Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026

Noun

Those types of drifts rarely appear in one fell swoop. — Polina Beletskaya, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

The Molly’s Game star wore her sleek tresses with a deep side part and the sides twisted back, framing her face with a soft, swoop-like effect. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 21 May 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