1. Taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
   "a sweeping glance"; "a wide-sweeping view of the river"
    
2. Ignoring distinctions
   "sweeping generalizations";
   - wholesale

1. The act of cleaning with a broom
   "His vigorous sweeping raised a cloud of dust"

1. Move across a surface or touching a surface
   "A gasp swept cross the audience";
   - brush
    
2. Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions
   "The diva swept into the room"; "The searchlights swept across the sky";
   - sail
    
3. Collect or move dirt by moving a brush, hand, etc. in contact with a surface
   "Sweep the crumbs off the table"; "Sweep under the bed";
   - broom
    
4. Clean by sweeping
   "Please sweep the floor"
    
5. To cover or extend over an area or time period
   "Rivers sweep the valley floor";
   - cross, traverse, span
    
6. Cover the entire range of
   "The survey swept all demographics"
    
7. Make a big sweeping gesture or movement
   "The dancer swept out her arms gracefully";
   - swing, swing out
    
8. Force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action
   "They were swept up by the events";
   - embroil, tangle, sweep up, drag, drag in
    
9. Win an overwhelming victory in or on
   "Her new show dog swept all championships"

Derived forms: sweepings

See also: broad, indiscriminate, sail through, wide

Type of: clean, cleaning, cleansing, cleanup, continue, cover, extend, handle, involve, manage, move, wield, win, wipe

Encyclopedia: Sweeping