Meaning of the word "sweep up" in English

What does "sweep up" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

sweep up

US /swiːp ʌp/

UK /swiːp ʌp/

to clean a floor or other surface using a broom or brush

Example:

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Could you please sweep up the kitchen floor?

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After the party, we had to sweep up all the confetti.

Synonym:

clean up clear away tidy up

to gather or collect something, often quickly or in large quantities

Example:

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The police quickly swept up the suspects.

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The new product is expected to sweep up a large share of the market.

Synonym:

gather collect round up apprehend capture