sweep
verb (used with object)
to move or remove (dust, dirt, etc.) with or as if with a broom, brush, or the like.
was sweeping
-
past progressiveof sweep.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Before they knew it, a flood of water was sweeping through the area.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
Senate Bill 244 was sweeping in its scope.
From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2026
At 15 his first job was sweeping up at Opryland USA, a park known for live shows and rides like the Wabash Cannonball, a roller coaster named for a train song.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
With scant information given by the various sides, back at the Intercontinental, vehicle registration plates gave away that the US delegation was sweeping in, straight from the Iran talks.
From Barron's ● Feb. 17, 2026
The sixty was sweeping the banks of the stream.
From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers
