sweep up

phrasal verb

swept up; sweeping up; sweeps up

: 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?

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

She swept up the broken glass.

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

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

: 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

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

The Clippers didn’t get swept up in the emotion of seeing their former teammate. —

Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024 The following month, Phoenix also swept up the Best Actor Oscar for his performance. —

Jen Juneau, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024 Huge numbers of men were swept up in the two-week-long raid, which left the hospital destroyed and inoperable. —

Mick Krever, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024 Sand from the desert below was swept up into the mushroom cloud. —

Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sweep up