Sweep — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈswēp/

Meaning & Definition of Sweep

Sweep (verb)

  1. to remove from a surface with or as if with a broom or brush
  2. to destroy completely, wipe out —usually used with away
  3. to remove or take with a single continuous forceful action

Sweep (noun)

  1. something that sweeps or works with a sweeping motion
  2. a long pole or timber pivoted on a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well
  3. a triangular cultivator blade that cuts off weeds under the soil surface

Sweep (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move or proceed smoothly and readily

    "the wind swept across the plain without respite"

    similar: bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, flow, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, whisk
    related: fly, race, rush, speed
    opposite: flounder, struggle
    near: limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stump, tramp, labor, toil

  2. to turn away from a straight line or course

    "from this point the mountain range sweeps to the northeast and extends into the next state"

    similar: arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, fall off, hook, round, swerve, trend, wheel
    related: circle, coil, curlicue, curl, loop, spiral, turn, twist, wind, deviate, veer
    opposite: straighten

Sweep (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends

    "Mrs. Griswold has been a teacher for so long that the sweep of her influence extends across three generations of the townspeople"

    similar: ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, scope, width
    related: gamut, spectrum, spread, bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain, frontier, horizon, panorama

Related Entry: Sweep (away) (verb)

Sweep (away) is a different word from Sweep. The synonyms below are for sweep (away), not for sweep.

  1. to destroy all traces of

    "some priceless works of literature were swept away when the library at Alexandria burned"

    similar: abolish, annihilate, black out, blot out, cancel, clean (up), efface, eradicate, erase, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, root (out), rub out, snuff (out), stamp (out), wipe out
    related: decimate, demolish, destroy, devastate, ravage, dismantle, flatten, mow (down), raze, tear down, ruin, total, waste, wreck, blast, blow up, dash, dynamite, smash, atomize, consume, devour, dissolve, fragment, powder, pulverize, shatter, splinter, doom, finish, kill, kill off, terminate, zap, cut, discard, ditch, eject, excise, expel, jettison, oust, throw out
    near: conserve, preserve, protect, save, build, construct, create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, shape, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renew, renovate, repair, restore, revamp

Related Entry: Sweepstakes (plural noun)

Sweepstakes is a different word from Sweep. The synonyms below are for sweepstakes, not for sweep.

  1. an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another

    "in last week's box office sweepstakes a quirky little comedy handily bested Hollywood's latest special effects extravaganza"

    similar: ball game, battle, combat, competition, conflict, confrontation, contention, contest, dogfight, duel, face-off, grapple, match, rivalry, strife, struggle, tug-of-war, war, warfare
    related: horse race, nail-biter, showdown, clash, collision, discord, friction, argument, controversy, debate, disagreement, disputation, dispute, dissension, quarrel, row, wrangle
    near: concord, harmony, peace

  2. a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize

    "regards the music awards as nothing more than a popularity sweepstakes"

    similar: bout, competition, contest, event, game, match, matchup, meet, tournament, tourney
    related: athletics, sport, battle, conflict, scrimmage, skirmish, struggle, tug-of-war, tussle, championship, national(s), final, nightcap, play-off, semifinal, derby, field day, gymkhana, open, outing, biathlon, decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon, triathlon, marathon, race, ultramarathon, heat, round, run, set, rally, volley, round-robin, rubber, runoff, sudden death, dead heat, photo finish, seesaw, classic

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sweep

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sweep:

bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, flow, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, whisk, arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, fall off, hook, round, swerve, trend, wheel, ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, scope, width

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sweep

Words with the opposite meaning of Sweep:

flounder, struggle, straighten

Related Words for Sweep

fly, race, rush, speed, circle, coil, curlicue, curl, loop, spiral, turn, twist, wind, deviate, veer, gamut, spectrum, spread, bailiwick, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty

Near Antonyms of Sweep

limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stump, tramp, labor, toil

Word Forms of Sweep

Inflections: swept, sweeping

Origin & Etymology of Sweep

Middle English swepen; akin to Old English swāpan to sweep, Old High German sweifen to wander

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Sweep

Words & Phrases Containing Sweep

sweep hand, sweep one off one's feet, sweep-second hand, sweep the board, sweep aside, sweep away, sweep out, sweep (someone) off his/her feet

Frequently Asked Questions about Sweep

What does "Sweep" mean?

"Sweep" means to remove from a surface with or as if with a broom or brush. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to remove from a surface with or as if with a broom or brush. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sweep"?

Other words for "Sweep" include bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, flow and glide. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sweep" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sweep"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sweep". Common alternatives include bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, flow, glide, roll and sail.

What is the opposite of "Sweep"?

Antonyms of "Sweep" include flounder, struggle and straighten. Near antonyms include limp, lumber, plod and stumble.

How do you use "Sweep" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sweep" in a sentence: "the wind swept across the plain without respite"; "from this point the mountain range sweeps to the northeast and extends into the next state"; "Mrs. Griswold has been a teacher for so long that the sweep of her influence extends across three generations of the townspeople".

Is "Sweep" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sweep" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Sweep" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Sweep" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Sweep"?

"Sweep" is pronounced /ˈswēp/.