swoop

1 of 2

verb

ˈswüp 

swooped; swooping; swoops

intransitive verb

: to move with a sweep

transitive verb

: to gain or carry off in or as if in a swoop

—usually used with up

swooper noun

swoop

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act or instance of swooping

2

: a single concentrated and quickly effective effort

was done in one swoop

—often used with fell

solved everything at one fell swoop

Examples of swoop in a Sentence

Verb

The police swooped in and captured the criminals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Ireland’s Playhouse Studios has swooped for troubled UK post-production house Lipsync, saving dozens of jobs in the process. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 June 2025

The book appeared on Mercari marketplace selling for $500, and Swifties swooped in. —Bryan West, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Noun

Additionally, stores like Saatva include free white-glove delivery to set up the mattress in your home and remove an old mattress in one fell swoop. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 13 June 2025

That has changed, as Metallica scores dozens of new honors from the music industry organization, and in one fell swoop, the band proves once again just how massively popular its back catalog remains. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English swopen to sweep, from Old English swāpan — more at sweep

First Known Use

Verb

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swoop

• in/at one fell swoop

Rhymes for swoop

• coop
• coupe
• croup
• droop
• drupe
• dupe
• group
• hoop
• loop
• lupe
• oop
• poop

Kids Definition

swoop

1 of 2 verb

ˈswüp 

: to dive or pounce suddenly like a hawk on its prey

swoop

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of swooping

2

: a single quickly effective effort

—often used with fell

solved everything at one fell swoop