verb
Uncommon
swoop
SWOOP
Swoop (verb) means to dive or sweep downward suddenly through the air. Example: “The falcon swooped down and snatched the mouse in one motion.”
verb
1
To dive or sweep downward suddenly through the air.
"The falcon swooped down and snatched the mouse in one motion."
"The plane swooped low over the runway before landing."
noun
1
The act of swooping; a sudden downward or sweeping movement.
"In one swoop, the seagull grabbed the chip from his hand."
How to use swoop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden, sweeping dive or attacking movement, usually downward.
Common pairings
swoop down
in one swoop
swoop in
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like swoop.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- swoops
- Third person singular
- swoops
- Past tense
- swooped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The falcon _____ down and snatched the mouse in one motion.
Etymology
From Old English swāpan, "to sweep" — the same root that gave us the word sweep itself.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for swoop
See all rhymes for swoop →Frequently asked questions
What does “swoop” mean?
The word “swoop” means to dive or sweep downward suddenly through the air. In plain terms, a sudden, sweeping dive or attacking movement, usually downward.
How do you pronounce “swoop”?
“Swoop” is pronounced SWOOP (/ˈswuːp/ in IPA).
How do you use “swoop” in a sentence?
Here is “swoop” used in a sentence: “The falcon swooped down and snatched the mouse in one motion.”
What part of speech is “swoop”?
Depending on how it is used, “swoop” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “swoop” come from?
The word “swoop” comes from Old English. From Old English swāpan, "to sweep" — the same root that gave us the word sweep itself.
Is “swoop” a common word?
“Swoop” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “swoop” have?
“Swoop” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to dive or sweep downward suddenly through the air.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include swoop:
