sweeping Hear it!

sweeping Definition

sweep·ing (swē′piŋ)

adjective

  1. that sweeps; cleansing or carrying away with or as with a broom
  2. reaching in a long curve or line
  3. extending over the whole range or a great space
    1. extensive; comprehensive; thoroughgoing
    2. complete; decisive
    3. indiscriminate a sweeping generalization

noun

  1. things swept up, as dirt, particles, etc. swept from a floor
  2. the act, work, etc. of a person or thing that sweeps

sweeping Related Forms
sweep′·ingly adverb
sweeping Synonyms

sweeping

modif.

extensive, complete, all-embracing; see comprehensive, full 3.

sweeping Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • street: Wycombe District Council Litter We are responsible for the sweeping of streets and the removal of litter in the Wycombe district.

Preposition: in

  • scope: Most jurisdictions have special privacy codes that are not as sweeping in scope.

Modifies a noun

  • generalization: I must be very careful not to make sweeping, inaccurate generalizations.
  • staircase: A sweeping staircase takes you to the first floor on which the public areas are located.
  • generalization: This, I pointed out, was just a sweeping generalization.
  • vista: The weather was balmy, the location idyllic; a narrow ribbon of road with sheer drops on either side, revealing sweeping vistas.
  • driveway: Long sweeping driveway giving access to the detached double garage.
  • bend: The old road from Alencon down to Le Mans through the sweeping bends under the trees is much more fun.

Modifying Another Word

  • too: He means " fiction " which is too sweeping.
  • rather: Ways of using ICT with the child are not made clear; instead, a rather sweeping statement is left for us to interpret.
  • so: There were changes too - although not quite so sweeping - among the professional staff.
  • now: Salmon believes viewers will also benefit from the overdue realism now sweeping sports TV.
  • then: TO THE REAR: Of the house is a decked area and then sweeping lawned gardens with mature hedging, ornamental and deciduous trees.
  • very: Developing a tort of group defamation which applied to races and religions would be a very sweeping extension of present English law.

Used with adjective complement

  • come: There; try again, " said Ujarak, pointing to a flock of birds which came sweeping toward them.
  • seem: My experience is limited in all areas, and some generalizations may seem sweeping, or even presumptuous.
  • need: It is very worn and may also need sweeping.
  • see: Over to the right, the M74 can be seen sweeping over the moor.
  • make: I must be very careful not to make sweeping, inaccurate generalizations.
  • go: In 869 A.D. , a merciless epidemic went sweeping through Kyoto.