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.

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noun

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

2. sweepings, matter swept 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

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Other Word Forms

• sweepingly adverb
• sweepingness noun

Etymology

Origin of sweeping

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

Explanation

Something that's sweeping is wide-ranging or thorough. A political candidate might campaign on promises to bring sweeping change to a country. Sweeping things can be extensive, like the sweeping powers a president has in a dictatorship, or curving, like the sweeping motion a dancer makes with his arm. Sweeping can also mean "overly broad," so if you make a sweeping generalization, you take a general idea or rule and apply it too widely, without allowing any exceptions to it.

Example Sentences

The sweeping red dress included elegant black gloves that matched her Stuart Weitzman heels.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

The chef’s kitchen features a large marble island with enough seating space for four people, state-of-the-art appliances, and an expansive glass window that overlooks sweeping views of California.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

Schulman’s big picture has also included sweeping job cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

With that came new work requirements, costs of the program shifting to states, and other sweeping changes that could lead to more than 3 million people losing access within the next few years.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

But few will ever see anything as good as what Christopher saw: the low-flying girl, arms out, her feet grazing the floor, sweeping into the light.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• across-the-board
• all-encompassing
• broad
• comprehensive
• exhaustive
• extensive
• radical
• thorough
• wholesale