Swap vs. Sweep: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 29, 2023
Swap refers to exchanging one thing for another, while sweep involves cleaning or moving something in one direction with a brush or tool.
Key Differences
Swap is the act of exchanging one item or service for another, often without the use of money. Sweep, in contrast, generally refers to the action of cleaning a surface by moving a broom or similar tool across it.
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Dec 29, 2023
In a swap, two parties mutually agree to trade items of similar value. Sweep, however, is typically a solo activity focused on clearing or cleaning an area.
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Dec 29, 2023
Swapping can also occur in a figurative sense, like swapping ideas in a conversation. Sweeping can also be metaphorical, such as sweeping changes implying a broad, comprehensive shift.
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Swap implies a two-way interaction, where both parties gain something new. In sweeping, the primary goal is to remove or collect debris or dust from a surface.
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Swaps can occur in various contexts, from casual exchanges to complex financial transactions. Sweeping, while often associated with cleaning, can also describe a wide, continuous movement in other contexts, like a landscape.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
Exchange of items or services.
Cleaning or moving something with a tool.
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Figurative Use
Exchanging ideas or roles.
Broad, comprehensive changes or movements.
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Contexts of Use
From personal exchanges to finance.
From cleaning tasks to descriptive movements.
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Swap and Sweep Definitions
Swap
Swap can involve trading services without money.
They swap gardening tips for cooking lessons.
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Sweep
Sweep is used to describe a wide scope or range.
Her gaze swept over the crowd.
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Swap
Swap also occurs in financial contexts.
The traders executed a currency swap to hedge risks.
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Sweep
Sweep can be used metaphorically.
The fashion trend swept across the country.
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Swap
A contract in which two parties agree to exchange periodic interest payments, especially when one payment is at a fixed rate and the other varies according to the performance of a reference rate, such as the prime rate.
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Sweep
To search thoroughly
The counselors swept the dormitory during the fire drill.
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Swap
(transitive) To exchange or give (something) in an exchange (for something else).
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Sweep
To search for and remove (electronic eavesdropping devices) from a place
Swept the room for bugs.
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Sweep
To touch or brush lightly, as with a trailing garment
Willow branches sweeping the ground.
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Swap
To beat the air, or ply the wings, with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap.
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Sweep
To pass over or through a surface or medium with a continuous movement
He swept the sponge over the tile. The conductor swept her baton through the air.
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Sweep
To clear, drive, or convey with relentless force
The flood waters swept away everything in their path.
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Sweep
To wipe out at a single stroke. Often used with away
The incident in effect swept away all her dreams.
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Swap
(finance) A financial derivative in which two parties agree to exchange one stream of cashflow against another stream.
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Sweep
To remove or carry off with a swift brushing motion
Swept the cards off the table.
Swept the child into his arms.
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Swap
Space available in a swap file for use as auxiliary memory.
How much swap do you need?
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Sweep
To move across or through swiftly or broadly
News of the lunar landing swept the country.
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Swap
(Cantab slang) A social meal at a restaurant between two university societies, usually involving drinking and banter; commonly associated with fining and pennying; equivalent to a crewdate at Oxford University.
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Sweep
To win all games in (a series) or all stages of (a contest)
Swept the World Series.
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Swap
To fall or descend; to rush hastily or violently.
All suddenly she swapt adown to ground.
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Swap
To beat the air, or ply the wings, with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap.
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Sweep
To move swiftly in a lofty manner, as if in a trailing robe
She swept by in silence.
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Sweep
To extend gracefully, especially in a long curve
The hills sweep down to the sea.
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Swap
Swap means to exchange one thing for another.
We decided to swap books after finishing our own.
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Swap
Swap implies a mutual agreement between parties.
The two companies swapped data to mutual benefit.
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Swap
Swap can be used in a figurative sense.
Let's swap roles in the next game.
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Sweep
A search for and removal of electronic eavesdropping devices, as in a room.
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Sweep
A curve or contour that resembles the path of sweeping motion
The sweep of her hair.
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Sweep
(Football) An end run in which one or more linemen leave the line of scrimmage and block in advance of the ball carrier.
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Sweep
A long pole attached to a pivot and used to raise or lower a bucket in a well.
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Sweep
Sweeps The period each fall, winter, and spring when television ratings are accrued and studied and advertising rates are reset.
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Sweep
The national survey of local stations that is conducted to determine these ratings.
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Sweep
(transitive) To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush.
To sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney
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Sweep
(intransitive) To move through a (horizontal) arc or similar long stroke.
The wind sweeps across the plain.
The offended countess swept out of the ballroom.
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Sweep
(curling) To brush the ice in front of a moving stone, causing it to travel farther and to curl less.
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Sweep
To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
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Sweep
To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
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Sweep
(military) To clear (a body of water or part thereof) of mines.
The channel was swept twice before the battlefleet proceeded through it.
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Sweep
(transitive) To remove something abruptly and thoroughly.
She swept the peelings off the table onto the floor.
The wind sweeps the snow from the hills.
The flooded river swept away the wooden dam.
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Sweep
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
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Sweep
(nautical) To draw or drag something over.
To sweep the bottom of a river with a net
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Sweep
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation.
To sweep the heavens with a telescope
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Sweep
A single action of sweeping.
Give the front steps a quick sweep to get rid of those fallen leaves.
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Sweep
A person who stands at the stern of a surf boat, steering with a steering oar and commanding the crew.
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Sweep
A methodical search, typically for bugs electronic listening devices.
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Sweep
(cricket) A batsman's shot, played from a kneeling position with a swinging horizontal bat.
Bradman attempted a sweep, but in fact top edged the ball to the wicket keeper
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Sweep
A lottery, usually on the results of a sporting event, where players win if their randomly chosen team wins.
Jim will win fifty dollars in the office sweep if Japan wins the World Cup.
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Sweep
A flow of water parallel to shore caused by wave action at an ocean beach or at a point or headland.
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Sweep
(aviation) The degree to which an aircraft's wings are angled backwards (or, occasionally, forwards) from their attachments to the fuselage.
The MiG-17's inner wing has 45 degrees of sweep.
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Sweep
(martial arts) A throw or takedown that primarily uses the legs to attack an opponent's legs.
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Sweep
(metalworking) A movable template for making moulds, in loam moulding.
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Sweep
(card games) In the game casino, the act of capturing all face-up cards from the table.
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Sweep
The compass of any turning body or of any motion.
The sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye
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Sweep
Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, etc. away from a rectilinear line.
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Sweep
A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them.
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Sweep
(rowing) A rowing style in which each rower rows with oar on either the port or starboard side.
I am primarily a sweep rower.
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Sweep
A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water.
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Sweep
(in the plural) The sweepings of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
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Sweep
Any of several sea chubs in the family Kyphosidae (subfamily Scorpidinae).
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Sweep
To pass a broom across (a surface) so as to remove loose dirt, dust, etc.; to brush, or rub over, with a broom for the purpose of cleaning; as, to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney. Used also figuratively.
I will sweep it with the besom of destruction.
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Sweep
To drive or carry along or off with a broom or a brush, or as if with a broom; to remove by, or as if by, brushing; as, to sweep dirt from a floor; the wind sweeps the snow from the hills; a freshet sweeps away a dam, timber, or rubbish; a pestilence sweeps off multitudes.
The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.
I have already swept the stakes.
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Sweep
To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
Their long descending train,With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.
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Sweep
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
And like a peacock sweep along his tail.
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Sweep
To strike with a long stroke.
Wake into voice each silent string,And sweep the sounding lyre.
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Sweep
To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net.
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Sweep
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope.
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Sweep
To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
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Sweep
To brush swiftly over the surface of anything; to pass with switness and force, as if brushing the surface of anything; to move in a stately manner; as, the wind sweeps across the plain; a woman sweeps through a drawing-room.
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Sweep
To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.
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Sweep
The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.
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Sweep
The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep.
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Sweep
Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease.
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Sweep
Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass.
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Sweep
Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line.
The road which makes a small sweep.
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Sweep
The mold of a ship when she begins to curve in at the rungheads; any part of a ship shaped in a segment of a circle.
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Sweep
A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sweep
In the game of casino, a pairing or combining of all the cards on the board, and so removing them all; in whist, the winning of all the tricks (thirteen) in a hand; a slam.
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Sweep
The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
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Sweep
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line
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Sweep
Sweep across or over;
Her long skirt brushed the floor
A gasp swept cross the audience
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Sweep
Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;
The diva swept into the room
Shreds of paper sailed through the air
The searchlights swept across the sky
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Sweep
Sweep with a broom or as if with a broom;
Sweep the crumbs off the table
Sweep under the bed
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Sweep
Force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action;
They were swept up by the events
Don't drag me into this business
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Sweep
To cover or extend over an area or time period;
Rivers traverse the valley floor
The parking lot spans 3 acres
The novel spans three centuries
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Sweep
Win an overwhelming victory in or on;
Her new show dog swept all championships
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Sweep
Sweep means to clean or clear a surface with a broom.
He swept the fallen leaves from the sidewalk.
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Sweep
Sweep can describe a wide, continuous movement.
The river sweeps through the valley.
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Sweep
Sweep can imply a comprehensive change or victory.
The new policy swept away old regulations.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does sweep mean?
Sweep typically refers to cleaning or clearing a surface with a broom.
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Dec 29, 2023
What is a swap?
Swap is the act of exchanging one item or service for another.
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Can swap be used in finance?
Yes, swap is often used in finance to describe the exchange of financial instruments.
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Can sweep be used metaphorically?
Yes, sweep can be used metaphorically to describe comprehensive changes or wide impacts.
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Do swaps always involve physical items?
No, swaps can involve services, ideas, or digital goods.
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Does sweeping always involve a broom?
Mostly, but sweeping can also be done with other tools or even figuratively.
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Can swap be a temporary exchange?
Yes, swaps can be temporary or permanent, depending on the agreement.
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Is sweep only related to cleaning?
While commonly associated with cleaning, sweep can also describe wide, continuous movements or changes.
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Are swaps equitable?
Swaps are typically based on mutual agreement, but the value exchanged can vary.
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Can you swap intangible things like ideas?
Yes, you can swap intangible things like ideas, information, or opinions.
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In finance, what is a "swap"?
A financial "swap" is a contract where parties exchange cash flows or liabilities, often used for interest rate or currency exchange purposes.
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What is a "sweepstake"?
A "sweepstake" is a type of contest where prizes are awarded to randomly selected participants.
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Can "sweep" be used metaphorically?
Yes, "sweep" can be used metaphorically to describe actions that have a broad or profound impact.
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What is a "sweeping statement"?
A "sweeping statement" is a generalization or assertion that covers a wide range of situations or circumstances.
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Is "sweep" related to weather phenomena?
Yes, a "sweep" can refer to a gust of wind or a widespread weather pattern.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can you "swap" emotions or feelings with someone?
No, "swap" is typically used for tangible items, not emotions or feelings.
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Dec 29, 2023
Are "swap" and "switch" synonyms?
They are similar, but "swap" suggests an exchange, while "switch" implies changing without necessarily receiving something in return.
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What is a "swapping algorithm" in computer science?
A "swapping algorithm" is used in virtual memory management to transfer data between the main memory and secondary storage.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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