swoop

1 of 2

verb

ˈswüp How to pronounce swoop (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Between the lines: The firm is swooping in on projects that other investors or developers are seeking to offload, especially in the face of policy headwinds or other challenges in certain regions. — Alan Neuhauser, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025 But the Patriots — armed with $125 million in salary-cap space, nearly $35 million more than anyone else — swooped in and offered Williams a four-year, $104 million contract. — Joseph Person, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
Trump and Vance, in one fell swoop, managed to embolden our adversaries (not just Russia — all of them watched this spectacle with glee) and alienate our staunch European allies. — Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2025 Regardless, the president has remained confident in Musk’s ability to find $1 trillion in federal waste but noted it won’t all be done in one fell swoop. — Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swoop

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of swoop was in 1566

Phrases Containing swoop

Rhymes for swoop

See All Rhymes for swoop

Browse Nearby Words

swoop
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Cite this Entry

“Swoop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swoop. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

swoop

1 of 2 verb
ˈswüp How to pronounce swoop (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on swoop

Nglish: Translation of swoop for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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