swept

Everyday

1. Swept is the past of sweep: cleaned the floor or ground with a brush or broom. tree →
2. Swept means moved quickly and smoothly, or pushed or carried along with force, like a wave sweeping something away. tree →
3. Swept can mean spread fast over an area, like news or fire sweeping across a country. tree →
4. A team that «swept» won every game. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and chores: «I swept the kitchen floor». In stories and safety: a flood swept away cars; a strong current swept a swimmer out — so swim only between the flags. In news: a storm swept across the country. Phrases: «swept away», «swept up», «swept off your feet» (fell in love quickly).

Examples

• I swept the leaves off the path. tree →
• The river swept the bridge away. tree →
• She swept into the room in a long dress. tree →
• The cold wind swept across the field. tree →
• A wave swept his bucket out to sea. tree →
• We swept up all the broken glass carefully. tree →
• The new game swept through the whole school. tree →
• Here he swept a path, there he trained a twig. tree →

Note

Irregular verb: sweep, swept, swept (not «sweeped»). Similar pattern: keep/kept, sleep/slept, weep/wept. Never walk or drive through floodwater: it can sweep you away.

In Jewish tradition

Lot is warned to flee Sodom, and the Israelites to leave Korah's tents, so as not to be punished with the wicked.

Interpretation. Tradition reads these as warnings to stay away from evil people and their deeds, or one may share the consequences.

Examples

• And he spoke unto the congregation, saying: 'Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be swept away in all their sins.' (Torah NUM.16.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying: 'Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here; lest thou be swept away in the iniquity of the city.' (Torah GEN.19.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said: 'Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be swept away.' (Torah GEN.19.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• The brook Kishon swept them away, that ancient brook, the brook Kishon. (Prophets JDG.5.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be swept away, both ye and your king.' (Prophets 1SA.12.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is swept away by want of righteousness. (Writings PRO.13.23, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Irregular verb: sweep, swept, swept (not «sweeped»). Similar pattern: keep/kept, sleep/slept, weep/wept. Never walk or drive through floodwater: it can sweep you away.