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to sweep

to sweep

127 2.3
To extend across a large area or long distance
  • verb
  • /swiːp/
translation icon : extenderse
  • During the meeting, sweeping changes to the company's policies were discussed to improve efficiency.
  • sweeping changes
  • sweeping reforms
  • sweeping generalizations

That's because COVID swept through the country and they've managed it.

Examples

  • Marty, we'll march into Masina and I'll sweep down from the north.

  • I need available units to sweep the area.

  • I want two teams to sweep from the north and the south.

  • Lieutenant, take your men and sweep every building in town, top to bottom.

  • They sweep away everything in their path.

  • Her mother made an entrance, sweeping in like royalty entering the grand ballroom.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • They're sweeping south down the frontier attacking farms and Mohawk villages.

  • The wildfire swept across the landscape, covering miles of forest in just a few hours.

  • She felt a sense of joy sweep over her as she remembered her childhood adventures.

Synonyms

to cross
vsto sweep
1.0

To go across something from one side to the other

carries the sense of wide coverage or duration rather than just passing across
to extend
vsto sweep
680 3.2

To make something reach farther, such as more places or people

focuses on covering wide area or period rather than increasing influence
to spread
vsto sweep
664 1.6

To put a thin layer over a surface

is broader, also referring to reaching across time as well as space
to cover
vsto sweep
192 3.3

To go across an area or distance

emphasizes reaching across a wider area or longer period than simple movement
to span
vsto sweep
  • Specialized
98 3.4

To stretch across an area or period of time

focuses on covering a wide area rather than marking endpoints
to extend to
vsto sweep
58 3.4

Reach up to a certain point or limit

means broad coverage beyond a single endpoint rather than stopping at a limit
to spread out
vsto sweep
24 3.1

To arrange or unfold things so they cover a larger area

implies simple extension or range rather than deliberate arrangement
to spread over
vsto sweep
17 3.6

Form a layer across a surface, like fog or icing

usually means broad extension not only forming a thin layer
to traverse
vsto sweep
16 5.6

To move across land or water from one side to the other

describes wide coverage without implying physical movement through it
15 3.7

To deal with a larger area or more topics

is more general, meaning wide extension across area or time rather than extra content
to straddle
vsto sweep
13 5.0

To reach across an area so parts are on both sides

suggests covering a wide area more fully rather than only partially
to stretch along
vsto sweep
2 4.2

To continue for a long distance along a narrow area

typically implies a broad wide area rather than a narrow elongated shape
to spread-eagle
vsto sweep
7.6

To stretch across a large area

also applies to long periods of time as well as physical area

Antonyms

52 3.0

Become smaller or tighter, for example when a muscle shortens

Idioms

8 7.7

To hide a problem instead of dealing with it openly

Phrasal Verbs

to sweep off
  • Informal
21 5.6

To make someone feel a sudden strong feeling, often romantic

16 3.8

To get rid of something completely so it no longer exists

To clean the floor by moving dust and dirt with a broom

A strong feeling that affects someone suddenly

To feel very strong emotions that you cannot control

7 5.8

To get carried into a situation and take part without meaning to

To ignore an opinion or worry as unimportant

To finish something quickly and with little effort

1 2.2

To remove dirt or leaves from a place using a broom

To destroy or carry something away completely, for example by water

Win every prize or game in a competition

Make someone feel very impressed and strongly attracted

To clean a boat's deck with a broom

Compounds

clean sweep
  • Informal
5 3.6

A full success when someone wins everything or makes a complete change

sweep hand
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A long hand on a watch or clock that shows seconds and moves smoothly

sweep oar
  • Specialized
9.3

A long paddle one person holds with both hands to row a boat

sweep-second
  • Specialized
8.6

A thin hand on a clock or watch attached at the middle that goes around every minute and moves smoothly

How Wide

to encompass
87 5.1
to sweep
127 2.3
to extend
680 3.2
reach
161 3.0

Surface Forms

sweep infinitive
sweeping present participle
sweeps third person singular
swept past
swept past participle

Etymology

Sweep grew to mean 'to stretch across' because of that broad sweeping motion that covers a lot of space. So when something 'sweeps' across the land, it means it extends over a wide area.