sweep up
phrasal 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
More than 1% of the national population is now imprisoned — including children — and conditions are often atrocious, human rights activists say, adding he’s suspended civil rights and conducted massive dragnets that sweep up criminal and innocent alike.
—
Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
Schools in my community are already impacted by this—an elementary school near an international grocery store had students swept up when the store was raided.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Van de Ven’s presence will mean Tottenham can afford to push up high knowing the Dutchman has the explosive pace to track back and sweep up Brentford’s attacks.
—Oli Gamp, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
Critics of President Trump’s deportation efforts have said that immigrants in the country illegally who don’t have criminal convictions could be swept up in Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
—Danny Tow, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sweep up 
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Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
Schools in my community are already impacted by this—an elementary school near an international grocery store had students swept up when the store was raided.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Van de Ven’s presence will mean Tottenham can afford to push up high knowing the Dutchman has the explosive pace to track back and sweep up Brentford’s attacks.
—Oli Gamp, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
Critics of President Trump’s deportation efforts have said that immigrants in the country illegally who don’t have criminal convictions could be swept up in Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
—Danny Tow, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sweep up
Dictionary Entries Near sweep up
Cite this Entry
“Sweep up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweep%20up. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
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