sweep
verb (used with object)
to move or remove (dust, dirt, etc.) with or as if with a broom, brush, or the like.
have swept
-
present perfectof sweep.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hawaii has been hit by flash floods and mudslides that have swept away homes after category one Hurricane Lala skirted Big Island over the weekend, leaving one person dead.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The tornado that transported Dorothy Gale from dusty Kansas to vibrant Oz might have swept up the village idiot instead.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
England's Harry Kane is pictured on the front page of the Daily Star, which jokes that "Hurri-Kane" might have swept the kick off time forward.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -- all foreign players -- have swept the last seven league MVP awards.
From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026
The rebels have swept in through the empty streets, the abandoned barracks.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
