Sweep Definition and Meaning
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Published on October 5, 2025
Sweep means to clean or clear (a space, surface, etc.) using a broom or brush, or to move swiftly and smoothly over an area. e.g., She swept the kitchen floor clean.
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Sweep Definitions
To move or push something along with force, especially over a surface or area.
The wind swept the fallen leaves across the park.
To win all the games or stages in a series comprehensively.
The team swept the series 4-0.
To affect extensively or swiftly, as if moving with a sweeping action.
The new fashion trend swept the nation.
To remove or clear away something in a continuous movement.
She swept the crumbs from the table with her hand.
To search an area thoroughly.
The police swept the building for any signs of the suspect.
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To move someone emotionally or carry them off their feet.
The romantic gesture swept her off her feet.
To conduct a comprehensive assessment or review.
The auditor swept through the financial records.
To clean or clear, as of dirt, with a broom or brush
Sweep a chimney.
To clear away with a broom or brush
Swept snow from the steps.
To clear (a path or space) with a broom or brush.
To search thoroughly
The counselors swept the dormitory during the fire drill.
To search for and remove (electronic eavesdropping devices) from a place
Swept the room for bugs.
To touch or brush lightly, as with a trailing garment
Willow branches sweeping the ground.
To pass over or through a surface or medium with a continuous movement
He swept the sponge over the tile. The conductor swept her baton through the air.
To clear, drive, or convey with relentless force
The flood waters swept away everything in their path.
To wipe out at a single stroke. Often used with away
The incident in effect swept away all her dreams.
To remove or carry off with a swift brushing motion
Swept the cards off the table.
Swept the child into his arms.
To move across or through swiftly or broadly
News of the lunar landing swept the country.
To pass quickly across, as when searching
His gaze swept the horizon.
To drag the bottom of (a body of water).
To win all games in (a series) or all stages of (a contest)
Swept the World Series.
To win overwhelmingly in
The opposition party swept the election.
To clean or clear a surface with a broom or brush.
To search an area for something.
To search for and remove electronic eavesdropping devices.
To move swiftly or broadly
The wind swept over the plain.
To move swiftly in a lofty manner, as if in a trailing robe
She swept by in silence.
To trail, as a long garment.
To extend gracefully, especially in a long curve
The hills sweep down to the sea.
To extend in a wide range
Searchlights swept across the sky.
A clearing out or removal with a broom or brush.
A thorough search of an area
A police sweep for drug dealers.
A search for and removal of electronic eavesdropping devices, as in a room.
A wide curving motion
A sweep of the arm.
A curve or contour that resembles the path of sweeping motion
The sweep of her hair.
An extent or stretch
A sweep of green lawn.
Range or scope
The broad sweep of history.
(Football) An end run in which one or more linemen leave the line of scrimmage and block in advance of the ball carrier.
One who sweeps, especially a chimney sweep.
Sweeps Sweepings.
The winning of all stages of a game or contest.
An overwhelming victory or success.
A long oar used to propel a boat.
A long pole attached to a pivot and used to raise or lower a bucket in a well.
Sweeps (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Informal Sweepstakes.
Sweeps The period each fall, winter, and spring when television ratings are accrued and studied and advertising rates are reset.
The national survey of local stations that is conducted to determine these ratings.
The steady motion of an electron beam across a cathode-ray tube.
(transitive) To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush.
To sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney
(intransitive) To move through a (horizontal) arc or similar long stroke.
The wind sweeps across the plain.
The offended countess swept out of the ballroom.
(transitive) To search (a place) methodically.
To travel quickly.
(cricket) To play a sweep shot.
(curling) To brush the ice in front of a moving stone, causing it to travel farther and to curl less.
To move something in a long sweeping motion, as a broom.
To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
(military) To clear (a body of water or part thereof) of mines.
The channel was swept twice before the battlefleet proceeded through it.
(transitive) To remove something abruptly and thoroughly.
She swept the peelings off the table onto the floor.
The wind sweeps the snow from the hills.
The flooded river swept away the wooden dam.
To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
To strike with a long stroke.
(rowing) To row with one oar to either the port or starboard side.
(nautical) To draw or drag something over.
To sweep the bottom of a river with a net
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation.
To sweep the heavens with a telescope
To vacuum a carpet or rug.
A single action of sweeping.
Give the front steps a quick sweep to get rid of those fallen leaves.
The person who steers a dragon boat.
A person who stands at the stern of a surf boat, steering with a steering oar and commanding the crew.
A chimney sweep.
A methodical search, typically for bugs electronic listening devices.
(cricket) A batsman's shot, played from a kneeling position with a swinging horizontal bat.
Bradman attempted a sweep, but in fact top edged the ball to the wicket keeper
A lottery, usually on the results of a sporting event, where players win if their randomly chosen team wins.
Jim will win fifty dollars in the office sweep if Japan wins the World Cup.
A flow of water parallel to shore caused by wave action at an ocean beach or at a point or headland.
(aviation) The degree to which an aircraft's wings are angled backwards (or, occasionally, forwards) from their attachments to the fuselage.
The MiG-17's inner wing has 45 degrees of sweep.
(martial arts) A throw or takedown that primarily uses the legs to attack an opponent's legs.
Violent and general destruction.
The sweep of an epidemic disease
(metalworking) A movable template for making moulds, in loam moulding.
(card games) In the game casino, the act of capturing all face-up cards from the table.
The compass of any turning body or of any motion.
The sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye
Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, etc. away from a rectilinear line.
A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them.
(rowing) A rowing style in which each rower rows with oar on either the port or starboard side.
I am primarily a sweep rower.
The almond furnace.
A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water.
Any of the blades of a windmill.
(in the plural) The sweepings of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
Any of several sea chubs in the family Kyphosidae (subfamily Scorpidinae).
An expanse or a swath, a strip of land.
To pass a broom across (a surface) so as to remove loose dirt, dust, etc.; to brush, or rub over, with a broom for the purpose of cleaning; as, to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney. Used also figuratively.
I will sweep it with the besom of destruction.
To drive or carry along or off with a broom or a brush, or as if with a broom; to remove by, or as if by, brushing; as, to sweep dirt from a floor; the wind sweeps the snow from the hills; a freshet sweeps away a dam, timber, or rubbish; a pestilence sweeps off multitudes.
The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.
I have already swept the stakes.
To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
Their long descending train,With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
And like a peacock sweep along his tail.
To strike with a long stroke.
Wake into voice each silent string,And sweep the sounding lyre.
To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net.
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope.
To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
To brush swiftly over the surface of anything; to pass with switness and force, as if brushing the surface of anything; to move in a stately manner; as, the wind sweeps across the plain; a woman sweeps through a drawing-room.
To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.
The act of sweeping.
The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.
The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.
The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep.
Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease.
Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass.
Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line.
The road which makes a small sweep.
One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper.
A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding.
The mold of a ship when she begins to curve in at the rungheads; any part of a ship shaped in a segment of a circle.
The almond furnace.
A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water.
In the game of casino, a pairing or combining of all the cards on the board, and so removing them all; in whist, the winning of all the tricks (thirteen) in a hand; a slam.
The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
A wide scope;
The sweep of the plains
Someone who cleans soot from chimneys
Winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge
A long oar used in an open boat
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line
A movement in an arc;
A sweep of his arm
Sweep across or over;
Her long skirt brushed the floor
A gasp swept cross the audience
Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;
The diva swept into the room
Shreds of paper sailed through the air
The searchlights swept across the sky
Sweep with a broom or as if with a broom;
Sweep the crumbs off the table
Sweep under the bed
Force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action;
They were swept up by the events
Don't drag me into this business
To cover or extend over an area or time period;
Rivers traverse the valley floor
The parking lot spans 3 acres
The novel spans three centuries
Clean by sweeping;
Please sweep the floor
Win an overwhelming victory in or on;
Her new show dog swept all championships
Cover the entire range of
Make a big sweeping gesture or movement
To clean an area by brushing away dirt or debris.
He swept the leaves off the sidewalk.
To pass over or across an area quickly and comprehensively.
Her eyes swept the crowd, looking for a familiar face.
To extend in a long curve or range.
The road sweeps along the coastline.
Sweep Snonyms
Sail
To move or travel smoothly and effortlessly.
The boat sailed down the river.
Brush
To clean or groom with a brush.
He brushed the dust off his jacket.
Glide
To move smoothly and continuously.
The skater glided across the ice with ease.
Skim
To move quickly and lightly over a surface.
The bird skimmed the surface of the lake.
Rake
To gather or collect something with a tool or implement.
He raked leaves into a pile.
Swoop
To move rapidly downward through the air.
The eagle swooped down to catch its prey.
Scour
To clean or brighten a surface by scrubbing it hard.
She scoured the burnt pan until it shone.
Clear
To remove objects or obstacles.
They cleared the table after dinner.
Whisk
To move or take something or someone somewhere quickly.
She whisked the children away before the storm hit.
Sweep up
To clean an area by sweeping.
He swept up the garage every Sunday.
Sweep Idioms & Phrases
Sweep under the rug
To hide or ignore a problem rather than dealing with it directly.
They tried to sweep the scandal under the rug.
Sweep off one's feet
To overwhelm someone emotionally.
The grand proposal swept her off her feet.
Broad sweep
Referring to a wide scope or extensive range.
The documentary covers the broad sweep of history.
Clean sweep
To win or achieve something decisively or comprehensively.
The party made a clean sweep in the elections.
Sweep someone away
To affect someone very strongly.
The powerful speech swept the audience away.
Sweep aside
To dismiss or ignore something dismissively.
He swept aside the objections and proceeded with his plan.
Sweep through
To move quickly through an area or group, often causing a significant impact.
The virus swept through the community.
Sweep up
To involve someone in an activity, often without much choice.
She got swept up in the excitement of the crowd.
Sweep Example Sentences
News of the celebrity's arrival began to sweep through the town.
The strong winds will sweep across the plains tonight.
The new policy will sweep away old regulations.
Her dress made a dramatic sweep as she turned to face the crowd.
She used a broom to sweep the kitchen floor every evening.
The reformist wave threatened to sweep the old government from power.
The scandal would sweep through the office, leaving no one untouched.
The firefighters worked quickly to sweep the area for survivors.
The waves continued to sweep onto the sandy beach.
He made a grand sweep of his arm during the presentation.
The river's current was strong enough to sweep away debris.
She won the election in a clean sweep.
Her eyes would sweep the room, taking in every detail.
Volunteers helped to sweep the park clean of litter.
He practiced his tennis sweep shot for hours on the court.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called sweep?
The word "sweep" comes from the Old English "swāpan," which means to sweep, swoop, or move swiftly. This reflects the action of moving or clearing something in a smooth, continuous motion.
How is sweep used in a sentence?
"Sweep" is used as a verb to describe the action of cleaning an area with a brush or broom, or to indicate a wide, continuous motion or change. e.g., She swept the floor clean.
How do we divide sweep into syllables?
"Sweep" consists of a single syllable, so it does not divide further.
What is a stressed syllable in sweep?
Since "sweep" has only one syllable, that syllable is stressed: sweep.
What is the pronunciation of sweep?
Sweep is pronounced as /swiːp/.
What part of speech is sweep?
"Sweep" is a verb.
What is another term for sweep?
Another term for "sweep" is "clean" when referring to sweeping an area with a broom or brush.
What is the root word of sweep?
The root word of "sweep" is itself "sweep," derived from Old English "swāpan."
How many syllables are in sweep?
There is one syllable in "sweep."
What is the verb form of sweep?
"Sweep" itself is the base form of the verb. The third person singular is "sweeps," the present participle is "sweeping," and the past and past participle form is "swept."
What is the first form of sweep?
The first form of "sweep" is "sweep."
Which determiner is used with sweep?
As a verb, "sweep" does not use a determiner. As a noun, determiners such as "a" or "the" can be used depending on the context.
What is the plural form of sweep?
As a verb, "sweep" does not have a plural form. When conjugated in the third person singular present tense, it becomes "sweeps."
What is the opposite of sweep?
The opposite of "sweep" could be "scatter" or "litter" depending on the context, especially if referring to spreading things around instead of gathering or cleaning them up.
Is sweep a noun or adjective?
"Sweep" is primarily a verb but can also be used as a noun, as in "give the room a good sweep."
Is the word “sweep” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Sweep" as a verb can take both direct and indirect objects depending on the sentence, e.g., "She swept the floor (direct object) clean."
Which vowel is used before sweep?
There isn't a specific vowel used consistently before "sweep"; it depends on the context of the sentence.
What is the third form of sweep?
The third form of "sweep" is also "swept."
Is sweep an abstract noun?
"Sweep" can be a concrete noun when referring to the act of sweeping. It is not typically considered an abstract noun.
Is sweep a collective noun?
"Sweep" is not typically considered a collective noun.
Is the word sweep a Gerund?
Yes, when used in its "-ing" form, "sweeping" serves as a gerund, e.g., "Sweeping the porch is her daily routine."
Which conjunction is used with sweep?
Conjunctions are not specific to "sweep" and depend on how it's used in the sentence.
Which article is used with sweep?
As a verb, "sweep" does not take an article. As a noun, the definite article "the" is commonly used when referring to a specific instance of sweeping, and "a" when referring to sweeping in general.
What is the second form of sweep?
The second form of "sweep" is "swept."
What is the singular form of sweep?
"Sweep" as a verb does not change; it remains "sweep" in its singular form.
Is sweep an adverb?
No, "sweep" is not an adverb.
Is sweep a negative or positive word?
"Sweep" is generally a neutral word; its positive or negative connotation depends on the context in which it is used.
Is sweep a vowel or consonant?
The word "sweep" starts with the consonant "s."
Is sweep a countable noun?
As a noun, "sweep" can be countable, particularly when referring to specific instances of sweeping actions.
Is the sweep term a metaphor?
"Sweep" can be used metaphorically to describe actions that encompass wide, impactful changes or movements, such as "a sweep of reforms."
Is the word sweep imperative?
"Sweep" can be used in the imperative mood in commands or requests, e.g., "Sweep the floor!"
Which preposition is used with sweep?
Common prepositions used with "sweep" include "across," "into," and "through," depending on the action being described.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
