range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.
the entire range of human experience
gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.
a performance that ran the gamut of emotions
compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.
your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study
sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.
the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity
scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.
as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened
orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.
within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change
Examples of sweep in a Sentence
Verb
He swept the dirt off the driveway.
He swept the crumbs from the table.
I need to sweep the kitchen.
Are you finished sweeping the porch?
A storm swept across the plains.
Fires swept through the forest.
She proudly swept into the room.
The limo swept up to the door.
He swept the curtains aside.
She swept the books off the desk. Noun
Mrs. Griswold has been a teacher for so long that the sweep of her influence extends across three generations of the townspeople.
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Verb
Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2025 As nostalgia for the Bush presidency sweeps the internet, Newsweek spoke to the experts about why Gen Z is falling in love with Bush.—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
Citing concerns over online doxxing and officers’ safety, many ICE agents have begun wearing balaclavas and neck gaiters to cover their faces while conducting immigration sweeps.—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025 The route is an arcing sweep through Spain’s beautiful northern provinces — via a four-day opening sojourn to Turin and the Franco-Italian border — climbing through the mountain ranges of the Pyrenees, Picos de Europa, and Sistema Central.—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sweep
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English swepen; akin to Old English swāpan to sweep, Old High German sweifen to wander
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