1 A2 neutral
To clean a floor or surface by gathering dirt, debris, or fragments with a broom.
"Could you please sweep up the broken glass before someone steps on it?"
separable
sweep up
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To gather and remove dirt, debris, or loose material using a broom, or to scoop someone or something up with a swift motion.
In plain English
To use a broom to clean up mess from the floor, or to pick someone up quickly in your arms.
What does "sweep up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To lift or pick up someone (especially a child) with a quick, sweeping arm motion.
"She swept her daughter up in her arms the moment she saw her at the airport."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To involve or draw people into a situation, movement, or feeling rapidly and powerfully.
"Nationalism swept up the entire population during that turbulent decade."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use a broom to gather things upward into a pile so they can be collected and removed.
Actually means
To use a broom to clean up mess from the floor, or to pick someone up quickly in your arms.
Usage tip
The cleaning sense is extremely common and among the most basic uses of the verb 'sweep.' The figurative sense (scooping a person up) is also well-established. Can also describe a force gathering something up as it moves.
Words that pair with "sweep up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
dust glass leaves mess crumbs debris
How to conjugate "sweep up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sweep up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sweeps up
he/she/it
Past simple
sweeped up
yesterday
Past participle
sweeped up
have + pp
-ing form
sweeping up
continuous
Hear "sweep up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "sweep up"
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