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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

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. 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
    
5. To cover or extend over an area or time period
   "Rivers sweep the valley floor";
   - cross, traverse, span
    
6. Clean by sweeping
   "Please sweep the floor"
    
7. Win an overwhelming victory in or on
   "Her new show dog swept all championships"
    
8. Cover the entire range of
    
9. Make a big sweeping gesture or movement
   - swing, swing out

Derived forms: sweepings

See also: broad, indiscriminate, pass with flying colors [US], wide

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

Encyclopedia: Sweeping