sweep
verb (used with object)
to move or remove (dust, dirt, etc.) with or as if with a broom, brush, or the like.
were 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.
“We were sweeping every crack, crevice and corner just to balance the budget. And so I know what it’s like when it’s in a downturn, and I remind my colleagues of that all the time.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Just up the sloped bank, Antonio Solano and Erick Torres were sweeping outside their tent, where they live under the Glendale Freeway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
One of the consequences of this larger civilizational decline was that large numbers of migrants, such as those who attacked the envoy, were sweeping across the eastern Mediterranean bringing chaos and destruction.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
By Monday morning, the authorities were sweeping through the encampment.
From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2023
It did not seem long until they were sweeping into the clearing at Grandpa’s house, all the sleigh bells jingling.
From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
