SWEEP - Meaning and Pronunciation

How to pronounce sweep?

This video provides examples of American English pronunciations of sweep by male and female speakers.
In addition, it explains the meaning of sweep through a dictionary definition and several visual examples.

IPA Transcription of sweep is /swˈip/.

Definition of sweep:
sweep can be a verb or a noun

As a verb sweep can mean:
1. To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush.
2. To move through a (horizontal) arc or similar long stroke.
3. To search (a place) methodically.
4. To travel quickly.
5. To play a sweep shot.
6. To brush the ice in front of a moving stone, causing it to travel farther and to curl less.
7. To move something in a long sweeping motion, as a broom.
8. To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
9. To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
10. To remove something abruptly and thoroughly.
11. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
12. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
13. To strike with a long stroke.
14. To row with one oar to either the port or starboard side.
15. To draw or drag something over.
16. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation.
17. To vacuum a carpet or rug.

As a noun sweep can mean:
1. A single action of sweeping.
2. The person who steers a dragon boat.
3. A person who stands at the stern of a surf boat, steering with a steering oar and commanding the crew.
4. A chimney sweep.
5. A methodical search, typically for bugs.
6. A batsman's shot, played from a kneeling position with a swinging horizontal bat.
7. A lottery, usually on the results of a sporting event, where players win if their randomly chosen team wins.
8. A flow of water parallel to shore caused by wave action at an ocean beach or at a point or headland.
9. A throw or takedown that primarily uses the legs to attack an opponent's legs.
10. Violent and general destruction.
11. A movable templet for making moulds, in loam moulding.
12. In the game casino, the act of capturing all face-up cards from the table.
13. The compass of any turning body or of any motion.
14. Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, etc. away from a rectilinear line.
15. A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them.
16. A rowing style in which each rower rows with oar on either the port or starboard side.
17. The almond furnace.
18. A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water.
19. Any of the blades of a windmill.
20. The sweepings of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
21. Any of several sea chub in the kyphosid subfamily Scorpidinae.
22. An expanse or a swath, a strip of land.

If you'd like to test your pronunciation of sweep, check out Accent Hero's real-time pronunciation feedback tool:

or our Android app: