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sweep(verb)BrE / swiːp / NAmE / swiːp / - to clean a room, surface, etc. using a broom (= a type of brush on a long handle)
- to sweep the floor
- Chimneys should be swept regularly.
- The showroom had been emptied and swept clean.
- to remove something from a surface using a brush, your hand, etc.
- She swept the crumbs into the wastebasket.
- He swept the leaves up into a pile.
- She swept the clothes onto the floor and invited him to sit down.
- to move or push somebody/something suddenly and with a lot of force
- The little boat was swept out to sea.
- Their tent was swept away in the storm.
- She let herself be swept along by the crowd.
- to move suddenly and/or with force over an area or in a particular direction
- Rain swept in through the broken windows.
- A fire swept through the store on Tuesday night.
- Strong winds regularly sweep the islands.
- to move quickly and/or smoothly, especially in a way that impresses or is intended to impress other people
- Without another word she swept out of the room.
- He swept into the lead with an almost perfect performance.
- to move something, especially your hand or arm, quickly and smoothly in a particular direction
- He rushed to greet her, sweeping his arms wide.
- to suddenly affect somebody strongly
- A wave of tiredness swept over her.
- Memories came sweeping back.
- to spread quickly
- Rumours of his resignation swept through the company.
- the latest craze sweeping America
- to move over an area, especially in order to look for something
- His eyes swept around the room.
- The car headlights swept across the front of the building.
- Searchlights swept the sky.
- She swept the crowd with her binoculars.
- to move, or move something, over a surface, touching it lightly
- Her dress swept the ground as she walked.
- to brush, comb, etc. your hair in a particular direction
See related entries: Styling hair
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/styling_hair/sweep_1 - Her hair was swept back from her face.
- to form a long smooth curve
- The hotel gardens sweep down to the beach.
- to win all the games in a series of games against another team or all the parts of a contest
- The Blue Jays have a chance to sweep the series.
- New Jersey swept Detroit last season.
- to win all the prizes, etc. in a competition
- to make somebody fall suddenly and deeply in love with you
See related entries: Love
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/love/sweep_2 - She’s waiting for some hero to come and sweep her off her feet.
- to win an election by a large number of votes; to make somebody win an election with a large number of votes
- to win a contest easily
- Obama swept to victory in 2008.
- to try to stop people from finding out about something wrong, illegal, embarrassing, etc. that has happened or that you have done
- An earlier report, implicating the government, had been conveniently swept under the carpet.
Extra Examples- A pair of golden eagles swept across the sky.
- She swept a hand through her hair.
- The traveller swept a hand toward the endless expanse of water.
- Two police motorcycles swept through the village.
- Without another word, she swept out of the room.
- to sweep the floor/street/stairs
Verb Forms- present simple I / you / we / they sweep
- he / she / it sweeps
- past simple swept
- past participle swept
- -ing form sweeping
Word Origin- Old English swāpan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German schweifen ‘sweep in a curve’.
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