sweep up

verb

swept up; sweeping up; sweeps up

1

: to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) by using a broom or brush

When I was sweeping up, I found an earring that I had lost.

Can you please sweep up the porch?

2

: to remove (something, such as dust, dirt, etc.) from a surface by using a broom or brush

She swept up the broken glass.

3

: to pick up (someone or something) in one quick, continuous motion

She swept the baby up and carried her to the crib.

4

: to brush or pull (hair) away from the face

—usually used as be swept up

Her hair was swept up in a bun.

Examples of sweep up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In doing so, the agencies can incidentally sweep up communications involving Americans who interact with foreign targets, an element of the program many lawmakers find unacceptable. —ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026

Andy eventually decides to quit, fearing she's lost herself after quickly getting swept up in the high-fashion business. —Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

The positive notes matter because CrowdStrike and Palo Alto have been swept up in the broader sell-off in software stocks this year amid worries that AI will steal market share. —Paulina Likos, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026

At least one person had to be rescued from a park on the Missouri side as water swept up anything in its path. —Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for sweep up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup