swoop

[ swoop ]

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 or upon ):

   The army swooped down on the town.

verb (used with object)

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

   He swooped her up in his arms.

noun

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

   Synonyms: drop, sweep, plunge, dive

swoop

/ 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

noun

1. the act of swooping
2. a swift descent

Word History and Origins

Origin of swoop¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of swoop¹

Old English swāpan to sweep; related to Old High German sweifan to swing around, Old Norse sveipa to throw

Idioms and Phrases

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.

More idioms and phrases containing swoop

see one fell swoop .

Example Sentences

Amazon says bright or dark lights can throw off the Show’s person-detection software, and it tries to focus on the center of the action without too many swoops that might look jarring for the person on the other end of the call.

From Washington Post

This was a handy way to trigger various features, like clearing all notifications in one swoop.

From Fortune

The hard hat was to protect him should the parents swoop low.

From The Daily Beast

At the same time I was on an emotional upswing, a hyper-manic swoop and I was falling in love with my now-wife.

From The Daily Beast

As you walk in front of the first screen, your silhouette appears and birds swoop down toward you.

From The Daily Beast

In one fell swoop, the Supreme Court has constrained government power, expanded corporate rights, and protected religious tyranny.

From The Daily Beast

She needs to reassure Brody that all will be well—that the CIA will swoop in and iron everything out.

From The Daily Beast

At one fell swoop on the field of Jena, the famed military monarchy of the great Frederick fell in pieces like a potter's vessel.

From Project Gutenberg

We always think of “eagle” when we think of “swoop,” but we do not often think of “swoop” when we think of “eagle.”

From Project Gutenberg

In a day or so they organise again, and swoop down on some other place, such as Belmont.

From Project Gutenberg

But Charlie didn't triumph, neither did he swoop; we watched carefully until we saw that Charlie was going astern!

From Project Gutenberg

There is something in the very words "flying column" to appease the impatient; wings in the air, a swoop upon the victim.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dive
• plummet
• pounce