swoop

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

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

swooper

3 of 3

noun (2)

swoop·​er

-pə(r)

plural -s

: one that swoops

Examples of swoop in a Sentence

Verb

The police swooped in and captured the criminals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Chanel doesn’t take pre-orders, so collection launches are typically frantic, as clients swoop down on previews to secure the best pieces. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Scores of residents were evacuated from their homes near the base early Sunday as armed police officers and army bomb-disposal experts swooped on the rural area. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Noun

Best Nontoxic Stainless Steel Swaps Replace an entire collection of old coated cookware in one fell swoop with this do-everything pots and pans set from Cuisinart. — Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026

Salt-Roasted Beet Salad Roasted beets pair with fresh herbs, fennel, spiced pepitas, and a swoop of strained yogurt. — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 17 Sep. 2026

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 (1)

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swoop

• in/at one fell swoop

Rhymes for swoop

• coop
• coupe
• croup
• droop
• drupe
• dupe
• group
• hoop
• loop
• lupe
• oop
• poop

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