Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Sweeping

Sweep′ing

,
Adj.
Cleaning off surfaces, or cleaning away dust, dirt, or litter, as a broom does; moving with swiftness and force; carrying everything before it; including in its scope many persons or things;
as, a
sweeping
flood; a
sweeping
majority; a
sweeping
accusation.
–
Sweep′ing-ly
,
adv.
-
Sweep′ing-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sweeping

SWEE'PING

,
ppr.
Brushing over; rubbing with a broom or besom; cleaning with a broom or besom; brushing along; passing over; dragging over.

Definition 2025

sweeping

sweeping

English

Verb

sweeping

  1. present participle of sweep

Noun

sweeping ‎(countable and uncountable, plural sweepings)

  1. (countable) An instance of sweeping.
    The sidewalk needed a sweeping every morning.
  2. (uncountable) The activity of sweeping.
    Sweeping took all morning.
    The sidewalk needed sweeping every morning.

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

sweeping ‎(comparative more sweeping, superlative most sweeping)

  1. wide, broad, affecting or touching upon many things
    The government will bring in sweeping changes to the income tax system.
    He loves making sweeping statements without the slightest evidence.
    • 2013 June 18, Simon Romero, "Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders," New York Times (retrieved 21 June 2013):
      By the time politicians in several cities backed down on Tuesday and announced that they would cut or consider reducing fares, the demonstrations had already morphed into a more sweeping social protest, with marchers waving banners carrying slogans like “The people have awakened.”
  2. Completely overwhelming
    He claimed a sweeping victory.

Synonyms

Translations

Anagrams

Similar Results