Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

sweeping

American  
[swee-ping] / ˈswi pɪŋ /

adjective

  1. of wide range or scope.

    Synonyms:
    comprehensive, broad, extensive

  2. moving or passing about over a wide area.

    a sweeping glance.

  3. moving, driving, or passing steadily and forcibly on.

  4. (of the outcome of a contest) decisive; overwhelming; complete.

    a sweeping victory.

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that sweeps. sweeps. sweep.

  2. sweepings, matter swept swept sweep out or up, as dust, refuse, etc.

sweeping British  
/ ˈswiːpɪŋ /

adjective

  1. comprehensive and wide-ranging

    sweeping reforms

  2. indiscriminate or without reservations

    sweeping statements

  3. decisive or overwhelming

    a sweeping victory

  4. taking in a wide area

    a sweeping glance

  5. driving steadily onwards, esp over a large area

    a sweeping attack
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • sweepingly adverb
  • sweepingness noun

Etymology

Origin of sweeping

First recorded in 1470–80; sweep 1 + -ing 2, -ing 1

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.

"Young players in Finland, Korea, Italy, Sweden – everywhere – often copy what Canadian teams do. They copy the athlete's delivery, the sweeping, the tactics, the communication," Rantamaki wrote.

From BBC

The film moves between the two in a sweeping, polyphonic narrative blending performances by professional and amateur actors, portraying a multifaceted Franco-African community refreshingly free from stereotypes.

From Barron's

However, that may require a delicate balancing act with fiscal policy after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi led her party to a sweeping election victory earlier this month.

From The Wall Street Journal

Xi and Starmer also agreed to deepen trade relations in services, healthcare, green technology and finance - though no sweeping trade free trade agreement was announced.

From BBC

Under top leader To Lam, who has pursued sweeping growth-oriented reforms, Vietnam has formally embraced the blockchain industry and is gradually asserting control over the estimated $100 billion market.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.