sweep
Third Person
sweeps
Present Participle
sweeping
Past Tense
swept
Past Participle
swept
1
to clean a place by using a broom
transitive
- She sweeps the kitchen floor every evening after dinner.
- The janitor sweeps the hallway to keep it clean and tidy.
- He sweeps the porch to remove fallen leaves and dirt.
- Before opening the store, employees sweep the sidewalks to welcome customers.
- After the party, they sweep the living room to pick up crumbs and spilled snacks.
2
to brush or comb hair back from the face
transitive
- She swept her bangs back from her forehead with a quick motion.
- He swept his hair to the side to keep it out of his eyes.
- He swept his long hair out of his face before continuing his work.
- She smiled and swept a lock of hair behind her ear.
- With a swift motion, she swept her hair back, ready to start her day.
3
to influence or cover an area or place quickly and broadly
- A sense of excitement swept over the crowd as the concert began.
- A wave of relief swept through the team when they heard they had won.
- The reforms are sweeping through the government, bringing significant changes.
- A feeling of nostalgia swept over her as she walked through her childhood neighborhood.
- The news of the scandal swept through the town, reaching everyone by lunchtime.
Synonyms:
4
to move swiftly and smoothly across a surface or through the air, often in a broad or wide-ranging motion
- The broom swept across the floor, gathering dust and debris.
- The wind swept through the valley, bending the tall grasses in its path.
- The dancer's arms swept gracefully through the air as she performed.
- The searchlight swept across the night sky, looking for signs of the missing aircraft.
Synonyms:
5
to clear away dirt, litter, or debris by using a sweeping motion, typically with a broom or similar tool
transitive
- He swept the leaves off the driveway, making it look neat again.
- The maid swept the dust from the corners of the room.
- She swept the sand away from the entrance to make it look tidy.
- After the storm, she spent hours sweeping the broken branches off the lawn.
- He swept the dirt out of the garage before starting his work.
Synonyms:
6
to stretch or extend continuously in a specific direction, often forming a curve
- The river sweeps through the valley, carving deep channels in the landscape.
- The mountain range sweeps across the horizon, creating a stunning backdrop.
- The forest sweeps across the mountainside, a vast expanse of green.
- From this vantage point, the coastline sweeps gracefully, creating a natural arc.
- As we climbed higher, the city swept below us, its lights twinkling like stars.
7
to win every game or event in a series
transitive
- The team swept the tournament, winning every match without losing a single one.
- She swept the competition, claiming first place in every event.
- Their victory was so dominant that they managed to sweep the entire series.
- The band swept the music awards, winning in every major category.
- The team was on fire, sweeping the playoffs with ease.
8
to move something quickly and smoothly across a surface
transitive
- He swept his hand over the surface of the water to feel the temperature.
- I accidentally swept the papers off the desk while reaching for my pen.
- The cat swept its tail through the grass as it walked by.
- The horse's tail swept the ground as it galloped.
- She swept the crumbs from the counter into the trash.
9
to cover or target an entire area with a gun, typically by firing in a sweeping motion or pattern
transitive
- The soldier swept the field with gunfire, ensuring no one could approach.
- The soldiers were ordered to sweep the building with their weapons drawn.
- He swept the hallway with automatic fire, clearing the way for the team.
- As the enemy advanced, they began to sweep the area with gunshots.
- The officer swept the street with his gun, ensuring the crowd stayed back.