swoop

American  

[swoop] / swup /

verb (used without object)

1. to sweep through the air, as a bird or a bat, especially down upon prey.

2. to come down upon something in a sudden, swift attack (often followed by down and on orupon ).

   The army swooped down on the town.

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verb (used with object)

1. to take, lift, scoop up, or remove with or as with one sweeping motion (often followed by up, away, oroff ).

   He swooped her up in his arms.

noun

1. an act or instance of swooping; a sudden, swift descent.

   Synonyms:

   drop, sweep, plunge, dive

idioms

1. at / in one fell swoop, all at once or all together, as if by one blow.

   The quake flattened the houses at one fell swoop.

swoop British  

/ swuːp /

verb

1. (intr; usually foll by down, on, or upon) to sweep or pounce suddenly

2. (tr; often foll by up, away, or off) to seize or scoop suddenly

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noun

1. the act of swooping

2. a swift descent

swoop More Idioms  

1. see one fell swoop.

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Etymology

Origin of swoop

1535–45; variant (with close ō ) of Middle English swopen, Old English swāpan to sweep ¹; cognate with German schweifen

Example Sentences

It was after the screening, during an open Q&A, when Mojica’s mother quelled the artist’s fears in one fell swoop.

From Los Angeles Times

That day she had flown over treetops, her shoes brushing the tips of their branches, and swooped low, causing a herd of unicorns to scatter.

From Literature

A single bird swoops into the sick room, landing on the bedpost.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, to fill the vacancy, they swooped in and signed Sam Darnold after he had led the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-win season.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mudrick says companies, on his advice, have put paperwork in place to quickly issue stock if the meme crowd swoops in.

From Barron's

Related Words

• dive
• plummet
• pounce