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Sweep Definition & Meaning

sweep
noun
  1. a wide scope; "the sweep of the plains"
  2. someone who cleans soot from chimneys
  3. winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge
  4. a long oar used in an open boat
  5. (American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line
  6. a movement in an arc; "a sweep of his arm"
verb
  1. sweep across or over; "Her long skirt brushed the floor"; "A gasp swept cross the audience"
  2. 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"
  3. sweep with a broom or as if with a broom; "Sweep the crumbs off the table"; "Sweep under the bed"
  4. 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"
  5. 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"
  6. clean by sweeping; "Please sweep the floor"
  7. win an overwhelming victory in or on; "Her new show dog swept all championships"
  8. cover the entire range of
  9. make a big sweeping gesture or movement

"Sweep" in song lyrics

See how sweep is used in real songs:

  • "Ok, lift me to activism chain activate street sweep"
    Aesop Rock — Daylight
  • "NYC to LA we do our sweep"
    The Alchemist f/ The Game, Prodigy — Dead Bodies
  • "Tuesday and thursday I lay low task force on they sweep"
    B.G. f/ Juvenile, Turk — Knock Out

Usage tips for "sweep"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "sweep" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for sweep to find words that pair well.

Use "sweep" in a verse

Now that you know what "sweep" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

Frequently asked questions

What does sweep mean?
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
What part of speech is sweep?
Sweep is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does sweep have?
Sweep has 15 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

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