sweep up

phrasal verb

swept up; sweeping up; sweeps up

1

: to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) by using a broom or brush

When I was sweeping up, I found an earring that I had lost.

Can you please sweep up the porch?

2

: to remove (something, such as dust, dirt, etc.) from a surface by using a broom or brush

She swept up the broken glass.

3

: to pick up (someone or something) in one quick, continuous motion

She swept the baby up and carried her to the crib.

4

: to brush or pull (hair) away from the face

—usually used as be swept up

Her hair was swept up in a bun.

Examples of sweep up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But these are not the first homes in the area to suddenly be swept up by ocean waves. —Li Cohen, CBS News, 25 Sep. 2024

Dragnets have swept up tens of thousands of people, more than 1% of the national population, shoving them into overcrowded prisons. —Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024

One of Hong Kong’s signature modern thrillers, The Eye got swept up in American audiences’ fascination with Asian horror from the late ’90s through the aughts, later receiving an obligatory remake in 2008 starring Jessica Alba. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2024

Philomena and Augustus appear in the show, running around both swept up in and amused by the circus around them. —Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 4 Sep. 2024