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to swoop

to swoop

11 3.2
To move quickly in a smooth curve from a higher to a lower place
  • verb
  • /swup/
translation icon : planear
  • I just want to swoop a bit of colour over that area.
  • birds swoop
  • swoop overhead
  • swoop low

As long as I don't meet any swooping birds, they I should be OK.

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Examples

  • "Did you see that bird swooping over the pond?" he asked her.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • As he gallops, the crow takes flight and swoops toward us.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Someone just swooped in and saved you?

  • But Mighty Eagle swooped in at the last second and got all the credit for stopping her.

  • The plane swoops over the valley and we see the spectacular lights of L.A. sprawl.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Swallows swoop like fighter planes as the group spreads out to look for artifacts.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The shiny red Peterbilts now swooped past in endless succession.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Crows, sleek and black in the tops of the trees, calling, swooping, chasing low and fast through the dark.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The eagle swooped down quickly to catch its prey on the ground.

  • As the helicopter swooped low over the field, the spectators cheered with excitement.

Synonyms

to sweep
vsto swoop
182 2.1

To move quickly and smoothly in a wide motion

moves usually from a higher to a lower position
to swish
vsto swoop
20 4.1

To move with a soft hissing or rustling sound in a smooth sweep

does not feature a whistling or hissing sound
to stoop
vsto swoop
1 8.9

To dive down quickly from the sky to catch prey

is not limited to hunting or bird-only situations

Antonyms

1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

54 4.0

To move upward to a higher place, for example up a hill or into the sky

Idioms

A single sudden action that happens all at once

Phrasal Verbs

1 4.2

Pick something up quickly by moving down fast

How Smooth

to glide
89 2.9
to swoop
11 3.2
to arc
3 4.4

Surface Forms

swoop infinitive
swooped past
swooped past participle
swooping present participle
swoops third person singular

Etymology

Swoop comes from an old sound word that copies a fast, curving move through the air, similar to swoosh. That's why swoop is used for moving quickly and smoothly in a sweeping curve.