Meaning

(intransitive) To fly or glide downwards suddenly; to plunge (in the air) or nosedive..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To fly or glide downwards suddenly; to plunge (in the air) or nosedive.
2. (intransitive) To move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack something.
3. (transitive) To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing.
4. (transitive) To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
5. (intransitive) To pass with pomp; to sweep.
6. (British, prison slang) To search the ground for discarded cigarette butts that can be made into new cigarettes.
7. An instance, or the act of suddenly plunging downward.
8. A sudden act of seizing.

Example Sentences

The lone eagle swooped down into the lake, snatching its prey, a small fish.

The dog had enthusiastically swooped down on the bone.

There was a person called Nana who ruled the nursery. Sometimes she took no notice of the playthings lying about, and sometimes, for no reason whatever, she went swooping about like a great wind and hustled them away in cupboards.

Bridge of Weir: Protection of the site of the former Kilmacolm branch station (closed on January 3 1983) has been lifted, and developers have swooped in with plans for new housing.

And his Eagles, which can with the same ease as a kite swoops a chicken, snatch up a strong built Chamber of wood 12 foot square, & well crampt & fortified with Iron, with all its furniture, & a man besides, & carry it to the Clouds?

Thus the Phyſitian looks with another Eye on the Medicinal hearb, then the grazing Oxe, which ſwoops it in with the common graſs: […]

And now at last you come to swoop it all.

Proude Tamer swoopes along, with such a lustie traine / As fits so brave a flood two Countries that divides: […]

Word Forms

• swoops
• swooping
• swooped

Synonyms for swoop

Related Words

When Should You Use Swoop?

Use swoop when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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