sweeping

1 of 2

noun

sweep·​ing ˈswē-piŋ 

1

: the act or action of one that sweeps

gave the room a good sweeping

2

sweepings plural : things collected by sweeping : refuse

sweeping

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area

b

: having a curving line or form

2

a

: extensive

sweeping reforms

b

: marked by wholesale and indiscriminate inclusion

sweeping generalities

sweepingly adverb

sweepingness noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• broad
• deep
• expansive
• extended
• extensive
• far-flung
• far-reaching
• rangy
• wide
• wide-ranging
• widespread

Examples of sweeping in a Sentence

Noun

The porch needs a good sweeping.

Adjective

a sweeping view of the valley

He dismissed the idea with a sweeping motion of his arm.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My mother-in-law spent days cleaning and sweeping before Passover. —Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025

Viewers also see the sealing of the deceased pope’s room and the destruction of his ring, the oaths taken by the cardinals before voting, and the sweeping of the Sistine Chapel for listening devices, all of which are accurate depictions, per CNN. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Adjective

While the challenges of transformation may feel daunting, supporting your people through change doesn’t always require sweeping initiatives or expensive programs. —Rahul Karan Sharma, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Some of those projects were also sweeping, to the point of quixotic -- even for the deepest-pocketed entrepreneur. —Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sweeping

• sweeping victory

Rhymes for sweeping

• beeping
• creeping
• heaping
• keeping
• leaping
• peeping
• reaping
• seeping
• sleeping
• steeping
• weeping
• beekeeping

Kids Definition

sweeping

1 of 2 noun

sweep·​ing

1

: the act or action of one that sweeps

2

plural : things collected by sweeping

sweeping

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area

b

: having a curving line or form

2

: broad sense 5

sweeping reforms

sweeping generalizations

sweepingly

ˈswē-piŋ-lē

adverb