swoop

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /swuːp/ UK /swuːp/ See IPA manual

Freq #15916

Meanings

1

verb
to move rapidly downward through the air, often curving upward again

An eagle began to swoop toward the fish near the surface.
2

verb
to act suddenly and decisively, especially to seize, arrest, or rescue someone

Police planned to swoop on the warehouse before dawn.
3

noun
a fast downward movement or a sudden, sweeping action

With one swoop, the hawk carried the mouse away.
4

noun
a rapid slide from one musical pitch to another

The singer ended the phrase with a dramatic downward swoop.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with swoop

swoop up Phrasal verb C1

to pick up or catch something in one quick sweeping movement

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to move rapidly downward... dive plunge descend

2 verb · to act suddenly and... raid pounce descend

3 noun · a fast downward movement or... dive descent raid

4 noun · a rapid slide from one... glissandoslide

Opposites

climb ascend

Word family

Forms swoopedswoopingswoops

Related forms sweep

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

swoop up
to pick up or catch something in one quick sweeping movement

Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Middle English swopen, from Old English swapan ('to sweep'). The modern w was probably restored under the influence of sweep. The word's core image is a broad, sweeping motion, which developed into the rapid descent of a bird and then a sudden raid or intervention.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# swoop

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /swuːp/
**IPA (UK):** /swuːp/
**Frequency rank:** 15916

## Meanings
1. to move rapidly downward through the air, often curving upward again
2. to act suddenly and decisively, especially to seize, arrest, or rescue someone
3. a fast downward movement or a sudden, sweeping action
4. a rapid slide from one musical pitch to another

## Examples
- An eagle began to swoop toward the fish near the surface.
- Police planned to swoop on the warehouse before dawn.
- With one swoop, the hawk carried the mouse away.
- The singer ended the phrase with a dramatic downward swoop.

## Synonyms
- dive
- plunge
- pounce
- raid
- descent

## Antonyms
- climb
- ascend

## Related Forms
- sweep

## Etymology
From Middle English swopen, from Old English swapan ('to sweep'). The modern w was probably restored under the influence of sweep. The word's core image is a broad, sweeping motion, which developed into the rapid descent of a bird and then a sudden raid or intervention.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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