swoop

1 of 2

verb

ˈswüp 

swooped; swooping; swoops

intransitive verb

: to move with a sweep

transitive verb

: to gain or carry off in or as if in a swoop

—usually used with up

swooper noun

swoop

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act or instance of swooping

2

: a single concentrated and quickly effective effort

was done in one swoop

—often used with fell

solved everything at one fell swoop

Examples of swoop in a Sentence

Verb

The police swooped in and captured the criminals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is swooping in to save the day. —Claire Franken, TVLine, 29 Dec. 2024

Its non-drying formula has been swooped up by more than 40,000 shoppers this month. —Melissa Epifano, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024

Noun

Whatever the origin story, the texts have been curated and released by both Jones and Lively, effectively torpedoing their adversaries in one fell swoop. —Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024

Consider organizing a family Secret Santa with family and friends, to help reduce consumption and holiday spending in well fell swoop. —Verity Burns, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English swopen to sweep, from Old English swāpan — more at sweep

First Known Use

Verb

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swoop

• in/at one fell swoop

Kids Definition

swoop

1 of 2 verb

ˈswüp 

: to dive or pounce suddenly like a hawk on its prey

swoop

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of swooping

2

: a single quickly effective effort

—often used with fell

solved everything at one fell swoop