Meaning & use
sweepers
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“sweepers” is a form of “sweeper”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
People or machines that clean floors or streets by brushing away dirt.
Grammar: Plural of 'sweeper'; use with plural verbs: the sweepers are working.
Patterns
- street sweepers
- floor sweepers
The street sweepers cleaned the roads early in the morning.
The sweepers in the factory use large brushes to clear the floor.
City sweepers help keep the sidewalks free of litter.
nounpluralsport
In soccer, defenders who play behind the main defense to clear the ball.
Grammar: Plural of 'sweeper'; often used with 'play as' or 'act as'.
Patterns
- play as sweepers
- the sweepers in defense
The team used two sweepers to strengthen their defense.
Modern sweepers need to be good at reading the game.
The coach instructed the sweepers to stay behind the back line.
Word forms
| singular | sweeper |
|---|---|
| plural | sweepers |
Common combinations
- street sweepers
- Street sweepers are common in large cities.
- floor sweepers
- The floor sweepers in the mall work at night.
- play as a sweeper
- He used to play as a sweeper for his local team.
- chimney sweepers
- Chimney sweepers clean soot from chimneys.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cleaner
- A general term for someone who cleans; sweeper specifically means someone who sweeps.
- defender
- In soccer, a defender stops attacks; a sweeper is a specific type of defender who plays behind others.
Word family
Practice
In soccer, what is a sweeper?
Choose one answer.
A sweeper in soccer is a defender who plays behind the main defense to clear the ball. A goalkeeper is a different position, and a sweeper is not primarily a goal scorer.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sweepers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.