Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sweeps, present participle sweeping, past tense, past participle swept
1. verb
If you sweep an area of floor or ground, you push dirt or rubbish off it using a brush with a long handle.
The owner of the store was sweeping his floor when I walked in. [VERB noun]
She was in the kitchen sweeping crumbs into a dust pan. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Norma picked up the broom and began sweeping. [VERB]
Synonyms: brush, clean, wipe, vacuum More Synonyms of sweep
2. verb
If you sweep things off something, you push them off with a quick smooth movement of your arm.
I swept rainwater off the flat top of a gravestone. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
With a gesture of frustration, she swept the cards from the table. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
'Thanks friend,' he said, while sweeping the money into his pocket. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: clear, remove, brush, clean More Synonyms of sweep
3. verb
If someone with long hair sweeps their hair into a particular style, they put it into that style.
...stylish ways of sweeping your hair off your face. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Her long, fine hair was swept back in a ponytail. [beVERB-ed]
4. verb
If your arm or hand sweeps in a particular direction, or if you sweep it there, it moves quickly and smoothly in that direction.
His arm swept around the room. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Daniels swept his arm over his friend's shoulder. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
...the long sweeping arm movements of a violinist. [VERB-ing]
Sweep is also a noun.
With one sweep of her hand she threw back the sheets.
5. verb
If wind, a stormy sea, or another strong force sweeps someone or something along, it moves them quickly along.
...landslides that buried homes and swept cars into the sea. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Suddenly, she was swept along by the crowd. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: carry, pull, drag, drive More Synonyms of sweep
6. verb
If you are swept somewhere, you are taken there very quickly.
The visitors were swept past various monuments. [beVERB-ed preposition/adverb]
A limousine swept her along the busy freeway to the airport. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
7. verb
If something sweeps from one place to another, it moves there extremely quickly.
[written]
An icy wind swept through the streets. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The car swept past the gate house. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: sail, pass, fly, tear More Synonyms of sweep
8. verb
If events, ideas, or beliefs sweep through a place, they spread quickly through it.
A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow. [V + through/across]
...the wave of patriotism sweeping the country. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: spread through, flood, overwhelm, engulf More Synonyms of sweep
9. verb
If someone sweeps into a place, they walk into it in a proud, confident way, often when they are angry.
[written]
She swept into the conference room. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Scarlet with rage, she swept past her employer and stormed up the stairs. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The Chief turned and swept out. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: swagger, sail, breeze, stride More Synonyms of sweep
10. verb
If a person or thing sweeps something away or aside, they remove it quickly and completely.
The commission's conclusions sweep away a decade of denials and cover-ups. [VERB noun with adverb]
In times of war, governments often sweep human rights aside. [VERB noun with adverb]
He swept the names from his mind. [VERB noun preposition]
Synonyms: clear, remove More Synonyms of sweep
11. verb
If lights or someone's eyes sweep an area, they move across the area from side to side.
[mainly written]
Helicopters with searchlights swept the park which was sealed off. [VERB noun]
Her gaze sweeps rapidly around the room. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: scan, run over, skim, eye More Synonyms of sweep
12. verb
If land or water sweeps somewhere, it stretches out in a long, wide, curved shape.
The land sweeps away from long areas of greenery. [VERB preposition/adverb]
...the arc of countries that sweeps down from South Korea to Indonesia. [VERB preposition/adverb]
13. countable noun [with supplement]
A sweepof land or water forms a long, wide, curved shape.
The ground fell away in a broad sweep down to the river.
...the great sweep of the bay.
Synonyms: arc, bend, curve More Synonyms of sweep
14. verb
If a person or group sweeps an election or sweepsto victory, they win the election easily.
...a man who's promised to make radical changes to benefit the poor has swept theelection. [VERB noun]
In both republics, centre-right parties swept to power. [VERB + to]
...voters nostalgic for the free-spending policies of the 1980s swept his Socialistsback to power. [VERB noun to noun]
...a sweeping victory. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: sail More Synonyms of sweep
15. countable noun [usually singular]
If someone makes a sweepof a place, they search it, usually because they are looking for people who are hiding or for an illegal activity.
Two of the soldiers swiftly began making a sweep of the premises.
There may be periodic police 'sweeps' of crime in the area.
Synonyms: search, check, examination, look More Synonyms of sweep
16. singular noun [with supplement]
If you refer to the sweepof something, you are indicating that it includes a large number of different events,qualities, or opinions.
The charter brought accountability to the whole sweep of public services.
17. See also sweeping, chimney sweep
18.
See to sweep something under the carpet
19.
See a clean sweep
20.
See to sweep someone off their feet
21. to sweep the board
Phrasal verbs:
See sweep up
More Synonyms of sweep
sweep in British English
(swiːp)
verbWord forms: sweeps, sweeping or swept
1.
to clean or clear (a space, chimney, etc) with a brush, broom, etc
2. (often foll by up)
to remove or collect (dirt, rubbish, etc) with a brush, broom, etc
3.
to move in a smooth or continuous manner, esp quickly or forcibly
cars swept along the road
4.
to move in a proud or dignified fashion
she swept past
5.
to spread or pass rapidly across, through, or along (a region, area, etc)
the news swept through the town
6. (transitive)
to direct (the gaze, line of fire, etc) over; survey
7. (tr; foll by away or off)
to overwhelm emotionally
she was swept away by their kindness
8. (transitive)
to brush or lightly touch (a surface, etc)
the dress swept along the ground
9. (transitive; often foll byaway)
to convey, clear, or abolish, esp with strong or continuous movements
the sea swept the sand castle away
secondary modern schools were swept away
10. (intransitive)
to extend gracefully or majestically, esp in a wide circle
the plains sweep down to the sea
11.
to search (a body of water) for mines, etc, by dragging
12.
to search (a room, area, etc) electronically to detect spying devices
13. (transitive)
to win overwhelmingly, esp in an election
Labour swept the country
14. cricket
to play (the ball) with a sweep
15. (transitive)
to propel (a boat) with sweeps
16. sweep something under the carpet
17. sweep the board
noun
18.
the act or an instance of sweeping; removal by or as if by a brush or broom
19.
a swift or steady movement, esp in an arc
with a sweep of his arms
20.
the distance, arc, etc, through which something, such as a pendulum, moves
21.
a wide expanse or scope
the sweep of the plains
22.
any curving line or contour
23. cards
a.
the winning of every trick in a hand of whist
b.
the taking, by pairing, of all exposed cards in cassino
24. short for sweepstake
25. cricket
a shot in which the ball is hit more or less square on the leg side from a half-kneelingposition with the bat held nearly horizontal
26.
a.
a long oar used on an open boat
b. Australian
a person steering a surfboat with such an oar
27.
any of the sails of a windmill
28. electronics
a steady horizontal or circular movement of an electron beam across or around the fluorescent screen of a cathode-ray tube
29. agriculture
a.
a rakelike attachment for the front of a motor vehicle for pushing hay into piles
b.
a triangular blade on a cultivator used to cut through roots below the surface of the soil
30.
a curving driveway
31. mainly British chimney sweep
32. another name for swipe (sense 10)
33. clean sweep
Derived forms
sweepy (ˈsweepy)
adjective
Word origin
C13 swepen; related to Old English swāpan, Old Norse sveipa; see swipe, swoop
sweep in American English
(swip)
verb transitiveWord forms: swept or ˈsweeping
1.
to clear or clean (a surface, room, etc.) as by brushing with a broom
2.
to remove or clear away (dirt, debris, etc.) as with a broom or brushing movement
3.
to clear (a space, path, etc.) with or as with a broom
4.
to strip, clear, carry away, remove, or destroy with a forceful movement or movements
5.
to move or carry along with a sweeping movement
to sweep one's hand through one's hair
6.
to touch or brush in moving across
hands sweeping the keyboard
7.
to pass swiftly over or across; traverse, as in search
searchlights sweeping the sky
8.
to direct (the eyes, a glance, etc.) over something swiftly
9.
a.
to drag (a river, pond, etc.) with a net, grapple, etc.
b.
to clear (the sea, etc.) with a mine sweeper
10.
to direct gunfire along; rake
11.
a.
to win all the games or events of (a series, set, or match)
b.
to win overwhelmingly
to sweep an election
verb intransitive
12.
to clean a surface, room, etc. with or as with a broom or the like
13.
to move, pass, or progress steadily or smoothly, esp. with speed, force, or gracefulness
planes sweeping across the sky, music sweeping to a climax
14.
to trail, as skirts or the train of a gown
15.
to reach or extend in a long, graceful curve or line
a road sweeping up the hill
noun
16.
the act of sweeping, as with a broom
17.
a.
a continuous sweeping or driving movement
the sweep of a scythe
b.
a stroke or blow resulting from this
18.
a trailing, as of skirts
19.
range or scope
within the sweep of their guns
20.
extent or range; stretch; reach
a long sweep of meadow
21.
a line, contour, curve, etc. that gives an impression of flow or movement
22.
a person whose work is sweeping; specif., chimney sweep
23. [usually pl.]
things swept up; sweepings
24.
a.
the taking or winning of all; complete victory or success, as in a series of contests
b.
in casino, the taking of all the cards on the board, by pairing or combining
c.
in whist, the winning of all the tricks in one deal
25.
a long oar
26.
a long pole mounted on a pivot, with a bucket at one end, used for raising water, as from a well
27. US
a blade or plow-point of various widths, used in the shallow cultivation of row crops
28.
a sail of a windmill
29.
sweepstakes
30. Electronics
one transit of an electron beam across the screen of a cathode-ray tube, moving either horizontallyfrom line to line, as in a picture tube, or circularly around a center point, as in a radarscope
31. American Football
a play in which the ball carrier runs a relatively long way toward a sideline before turning toward the line of scrimmage
32. [usually pl.]; Radio and Television; Informal
a.
a national rating survey of local stations for determining advertising rates
b.
the period during which the survey is conducted
Word origin
ME swepen, akin to (or ? altered swapan: see swoop
sweep in Hospitality
(swip)
Word forms: (present) sweeps, (past) swept, (perfect) swept, (progressive) sweeping
verb
(Hospitality (hotel): Housekeeping and maintenance)
If you sweep an area of floor or ground, you push dirt or garbage off it using a brush with along handle.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ the floor
They sweep the floor when the room is cleaned.
She swept the crumbs from the kitchen floor with a brush.
Sweep in front of doors to remove dirt.
More idioms containing
sweep
sweep someone off their feet
sweep something under the carpet
sweep the board
sweep something under the rug
make a clean sweep
make a clean sweep of something
Examples of 'sweep' in a sentence
sweep
Yesterday police were making one final sweep of the crime scene.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The team swept the area before blowing up the shell.
The Sun (2008)
The broad brush sweeps before it the guilty and the innocent.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They won it because they refused to be swept away.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet a longer sweep is liable to produce rather more mixed results.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
Any hopes of an improvement after the interval were quickly swept away.
The Sun (2012)
Tax accountants are also being swept aside.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can imagine with the hotel sweeping across opposite the pavilion side it will look terrific.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Push from the left foot to lunge over to the other side in one sweeping movement.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This arc of pristine sand sweeps around a bay backed by swaying palm trees.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He sweeps his hand through his hair again.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was fantastic to have the crowd with us and they swept us along.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That hair is swept up and tied back into a ponytail.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The great sweeping ideologies had been a failure.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He promised sweeping reforms and social justice for all.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Then there has been a whole sweep of diseases.
The Sun (2010)
So make a clean sweep with these sparkling offers.
The Sun (2014)
They paint the grand sweep of history.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It's not entirely terrible that a lot of the past has been swept away.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yes, it is very early to be making sweeping assessments but these were worrying signs.
The Sun (2009)
If it detects an enemy sweep, the boat dives and moves somewhere safer before repeating the process.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You can follow a trail up the cliff; the reward is an amazing view of two sweeping bays and the whole peninsula beyond.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
sweep
British English: sweep /swiːp/ VERB
If you sweep an area of ground, you push dirt or rubbish off it with a broom.
She was in the kitchen sweeping crumbs into a dust pan.
American English: sweep
Arabic: يَكْنُسُ
Brazilian Portuguese: varrer
Chinese: 扫
Croatian: mesti
Czech: zamést
Danish: feje
Dutch: vegen
European Spanish: barrer
Finnish: lakaista
French: balayer
German: fegen
Greek: σκουπίζω
Italian: spazzare
Japanese: 掃く
Korean: 쓸다
Norwegian: feie
Polish: rozciągnąć się
European Portuguese: varrer
Romanian: a mătura
Russian: мести
Latin American Spanish: barrer
Swedish: sopa
Thai: กวาด
Turkish: süpürmek
Ukrainian: замітати
Vietnamese: quét
All related terms of 'sweep'
sweep-saw
a saw with a thin blade that can be used for cutting curved shapes
sweep up
If you sweep up rubbish or dirt , you push it together with a brush and then remove it.
clean sweep
an overwhelming victory
sweep hand
a long hand that registers seconds or fractions of seconds on the perimeter of the dial
well sweep
a device for raising buckets from and lowering them into a well , consisting of a long pivoted pole , the bucket being attached to one end by a long rope
chimney sweep
A chimney sweep is a person whose job is to clean the soot out of chimneys.
a clean sweep
If you make a clean sweep of something such as a series of games or tournaments , you win them all.
sweep the board
to win all the prizes or seats in a competition or election
make a clean sweep
if someone who has just taken up a position of authority in an organization makes a clean sweep , they make a lot of changes, for example getting rid of a large number of employees , in order to make the organization more efficient or profitable
to sweep the board
If someone sweeps the board in a competition or election , they win nearly everything that it is possible to win.
variable-geometry
denoting an aircraft in which the wings are hinged to give the variable aspect ratio colloquially known as a swing-wing
sweep someone off his feet
to inspire strong and immediate enthusiasm , love, etc. in someone
sweep someone off their feet
to be so attractive , romantic , and exciting that someone falls in love with you almost as soon as they meet you
sweep something under the rug
to try to forget about something and hide it because you find it embarrassing or shameful
sweep something under the carpet
to try to hide and forget about something because it makes you embarrassed or ashamed . The usual American expression is sweep something under the rug .
make a clean sweep of something
to win something or a series of things very easily
to sweep someone off their feet
If someone sweeps you off your feet , you fall in love with them very quickly because you find them very attractive or exciting .
carry off one's feet
to fill with enthusiasm
to sweep something under the carpet to sweep something under the rug
If someone sweeps something bad or wrong under the carpet , or if they sweep it under the rug , they try to prevent people from hearing about it.
Chinese translation of 'sweep'
sweep
(swiːp)
Word forms:ptppswept
n(c)
the floor could do with a sweep地板该(該)扫(掃)了 (dìbǎn gāi sǎo le)
(= curve) 蜿蜒 (wānyán)
(= range) 广(廣)度 (guǎngdù)
vt
(with brush) 扫(掃) (sǎo)
(with hand) 拂去 (fúqù)
[one's hair]掠 (lüè)
[wind]吹 (chuī)
[water, crowd]冲(沖) (chōng)
[eyes, lights][place]扫(掃)视(視) (sǎoshì)
vi
to sweep in/out/past[person]昂首阔(闊)步地进(進)来(來)/出去/走过(過) (áng shǒu kuò bù de jìnlái/chūqù/zǒuguò)
[hand, arm]挥(揮)舞 (huīwǔ)
[wind]吹 (chuī)
to sweep sth under the carpet or rug (fig) 隐(隱)瞒(瞞)某事 (yǐnmán mǒushì)
All related terms of 'sweep'
sweep up
清扫(掃) qīngsǎo
sweep aside
一扫(掃)而空 yī sǎo ér kōng
to sweep in/out/past
( person ) 昂首阔(闊)步地进(進)来(來)/出去/走过(過) áng shǒu kuò bù de jìnlái/chūqù/zǒuguò