Explanation at your level:
A sweep is when you use a broom to clean the floor. You move the broom back and forth. You can say, 'I gave the floor a quick sweep.' It is a very useful word for cleaning!
You use sweep to talk about cleaning. 'I did a sweep of the kitchen.' It also means a long movement. 'The bird made a wide sweep in the sky.' It is a common word in daily life.
In this level, you will see sweep used for searching. Police might do a security sweep of a room. It also describes a wide range, like 'the sweep of the hills.' Remember to use it with verbs like 'give' or 'do'.
At this level, sweep is often used figuratively. We talk about 'a clean sweep' in sports, meaning a total victory. It also appears in idioms like 'sweeping changes,' which means big, widespread improvements or alterations to a system.
Advanced learners use sweep to describe landscape or scope. 'The grand sweep of history' refers to the long, continuous flow of events. It is also used in technical contexts, such as a 'frequency sweep' in electronics or engineering, where a range of values is tested in sequence.
At the mastery level, sweep captures both physical grace and metaphorical reach. Literary writers use it to describe the 'sweep of a landscape' or the 'sweep of an era.' It carries a nuance of encompassing everything within a specific radius, whether physical or temporal, reflecting its ancient roots in 'rushing' or 'moving' through space.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Sweep can mean cleaning with a broom.
- It also describes a long, wide motion.
- It is a regular noun (sweeps).
- Commonly used in sports for total wins.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word sweep. When used as a noun, it usually refers to two main ideas. First, it is the simple act of cleaning, like when you give the kitchen floor a quick sweep to get rid of crumbs.
Second, it describes a motion. Think of a long, wide, curved movement. For example, a dancer might make a graceful sweep of their arm across the stage. It implies something that covers a wide area in one go, which is why we also use it to describe searching an entire room or area thoroughly.
The word sweep has deep roots in Old English, coming from the word swāpan, which meant to move, rush, or drive along. It belongs to the Germanic language family, sharing ancestors with words in Dutch and German that also describe moving things aside.
Historically, it was closely tied to the physical action of clearing away dirt, but over centuries, the meaning expanded. By the Middle Ages, the word began to describe not just the act of cleaning, but the rhythmic motion itself. It is a great example of how a very practical, daily-life word evolved to describe abstract concepts like movement and range.
You will hear sweep used in both casual and professional settings. In a home, you might ask for a broom to give the porch a quick sweep. In a more formal or professional context, you might hear about a security sweep of a building, meaning a thorough check of the area.
Common pairings include clean sweep, which means winning every game in a series, or wide sweep, describing a large visual range. It is a versatile word that fits almost anywhere you need to describe a motion or a cleaning action.
Idioms make English fun! Here are five common ones:
- A clean sweep: Winning everything or removing all old things.
- Sweep under the rug: Hiding a problem instead of fixing it.
- Sweep off one's feet: To make someone fall in love or feel overwhelmed.
- Make a clean sweep: Starting over completely fresh.
- Sweep the board: Winning every prize or competition.
The word sweep is a regular noun. Its plural is simply sweeps. It is a countable noun, so you can say 'a sweep' or 'many sweeps'.
Pronunciation-wise, it is a single syllable. In both British and American English, the IPA is /swiːp/. It rhymes with words like deep, keep, sleep, creep, and steep. Focus on that long 'ee' sound and the crisp 'p' at the end!
Fun Fact
It is related to the word 'swoop'.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'ee' sound with a crisp 'p'.
Similar to UK, very clear 'sw' blend.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'swip'
- Dropping the final 'p'
- Making the 'ee' too short
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Standard usage
Easy to pronounce
Clear sound
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Regular Noun Plurals
sweep -> sweeps
Articles
a sweep
Verb/Noun conversion
to sweep / a sweep
Examples by Level
I gave the floor a quick sweep.
floor/cleaning
Noun usage
The room needs a good sweep.
He made a wide sweep with his arm.
The security sweep was successful.
She gave the dusty table a sweep.
The broom made a loud sweep sound.
We finished the sweep of the yard.
The sweep took only five minutes.
Look at the sweep of the valley.
The police conducted a sweep of the area.
He made a clean sweep of the awards.
The landscape has a beautiful, wide sweep.
The sweep of the pendulum is steady.
We need to do a final sweep for lost items.
The sweep of his hand indicated the view.
A quick sweep of the data showed errors.
The sweep of the coast is breathtaking.
The team made a clean sweep of the championship.
Sweeping changes were made to the policy.
The radar performed a 360-degree sweep.
The sweep of the mountain range is massive.
He was swept off his feet by the news.
The sweep of the brush created a soft line.
They did a thorough sweep of the building.
The sweep of the narrative is quite epic.
The sweep of the novel covers three decades.
The committee conducted a sweep of the archives.
The sweep of the horizon was perfectly clear.
He analyzed the sweep of political influence.
The sweep of the violin bow was dramatic.
A sweep of the market revealed new trends.
The sweep of the law is quite broad.
The sweep of the bird's wing was graceful.
The sweep of the historical arc is impressive.
The sweep of the architecture is neoclassical.
A comprehensive sweep of the literature was done.
The sweep of the storm covered the whole state.
The sweep of the conductor's baton was precise.
The sweep of the desert is intimidating.
The sweep of the argument was very persuasive.
The sweep of the galaxy is infinite.
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"sweep under the rug"
To hide a problem
Don't sweep the mistake under the rug.
casual"clean sweep"
Total victory
It was a clean sweep for the team.
neutral"swept off one's feet"
Overwhelmed by charm/love
She was swept off her feet.
casual"sweep the board"
Win all prizes
They are going to sweep the board.
neutral"make a clean sweep"
Start fresh
Let's make a clean sweep of the office.
neutral"new broom sweeps clean"
New leaders change things
A new broom sweeps clean, they say.
idiomaticEasily Confused
Similar sound
Swoop is for birds diving.
The bird made a swoop.
Similar spelling
Swipe is a quick strike or card action.
Swipe the card.
Verb vs Noun
Context determines the role.
I sweep (v) / The sweep (n).
Visual similarity
Swamp is wet land.
The swamp is deep.
Sentence Patterns
Give + [noun] + a sweep
Give the floor a sweep.
Do + a sweep + of
Do a sweep of the room.
A + [adjective] + sweep
A quick sweep.
The sweep + of + [noun]
The sweep of the valley.
Make + a + clean sweep
They made a clean sweep.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
Ensure the sentence structure supports a noun.
Sweep is the base, swept is the past.
Sweep is for floors/surfaces.
It is a standard noun.
It needs an article.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a giant broom sweeping your entire house.
Native Usage
Use 'give it a sweep' for a natural sound.
Cultural Insight
Chimney sweeps are considered lucky in some cultures.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'a' or 'the' before the noun.
Say It Right
Hold the 'ee' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use 'sweeped'; use 'swept'.
Did You Know?
It comes from an Old English word for rushing.
Study Smart
Write five sentences using the noun form.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Sweep the floor so you can SLEEP on it.
Visual Association
A broom moving in a wide arc.
Word Web
Desafio
Describe a movement you see using 'sweep'.
Origem da palavra
Old English
Original meaning: To move, rush, or drive along
Contexto cultural
None
Common in domestic chores and sports.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Cleaning
- give it a sweep
- grab the broom
- clear the dust
Security
- security sweep
- thorough check
- clear the area
Sports
- clean sweep
- win the series
- undefeated
Landscapes
- wide sweep
- panoramic view
- vast range
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever had to do a sweep of a room?"
"What is your favorite way to clean?"
"Do you like sports teams that make a clean sweep?"
"How would you describe the sweep of the landscape?"
"Have you ever been swept off your feet?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you cleaned your room.
Write about a sports victory.
Explain what 'sweeping changes' means to you.
Describe a wide view you have seen.
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasIt is both!
Swept.
Only metaphorically, like 'swept off feet'.
Yes, you can have one sweep or many.
Cleans chimneys.
It can be both formal and casual.
Yes.
Usually you vacuum, but you can sweep dust off.
Teste-se
I need a broom to ___ the floor.
Sweep is the correct verb for cleaning.
What is a 'clean sweep'?
It means winning everything.
A sweep can be a security check.
Yes, it is often used for thorough searches.
Word
Significado
Matches words to meanings.
The police did a sweep.
Pontuação: /5
Summary
A sweep is either a cleaning action with a broom or a wide, graceful movement.
- Sweep can mean cleaning with a broom.
- It also describes a long, wide motion.
- It is a regular noun (sweeps).
- Commonly used in sports for total wins.
Memory Palace
Imagine a giant broom sweeping your entire house.
Native Usage
Use 'give it a sweep' for a natural sound.
Cultural Insight
Chimney sweeps are considered lucky in some cultures.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'a' or 'the' before the noun.
Exemplo
The kitchen floor needs a quick sweep before the guests arrive.
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