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Swoop - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Swoop means to descend or move swiftly and smoothly, often in a sweeping motion, like a bird diving to catch prey or someone quickly grabbing something. It suggests speed and suddenness.

swoop

/swuːp/ /swuːp/

Definition:

To descend rapidly, especially in flight, often to seize something.

Synonyms:

dive, plunge, pounce, sweep

Part of Speech:

verb, noun

Antonyms:

ascend, rise

Common Collocations:

eagle's swoop, sudden swoop, police swoop

Derivatives:

swooping, swooped

Usage Tips:

Use "swoop" for sudden downward movements, especially by birds or in quick actions like police raids.

Common Phrases:

in one fell swoop, swoop down on

Etymology:

Originates from Old English *swāpan*, meaning "to sweep," influenced by Middle Dutch *swopen*.

Examples:

  • 1. The eagle will swoop down to catch its prey.
  • 2. The police conducted a midnight swoop on the hideout.
  • 3. She watched the seagulls swoop over the waves.
  • 4. In one fell swoop, he solved all our problems.

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