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

Plus, in the end, another chain, Sizzler, swoops in and steals all the cows. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026

The rights to Divine Rivals lapsed, and Disney swooped in to acquire them. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026

Noun

And as for Escola, the Tony-winning actor and writer's film-star curls landed right between Palmer's and Anderson's, style-wise, with a pageboy shape and that dramatic swoop teased and sculpted into an exaggerated shape for a cheeky finish. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Nov. 2026

Then exits the room to make her entrance again as a makeup artist appears to administer touch-ups and a wardrobe assistant swoops in to adjust one of the women’s hats. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 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