mop-up

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
: a concluding action or phase

mop up

2 of 2

verb

mopped up; mopping up; mops up

transitive verb

1
British : to consume eagerly
2
: to gather as if by absorbing
also : garner
mopped up all the awards
3
: to overcome decisively : trounce
4
: to clear (an area) of remaining pockets of resistance in the wake of a military offensive

intransitive verb

: to complete a project, transaction, or task

Examples of mop-up in a Sentence

Noun the general announced that the remaining fighting would be only a mop-up to a war that was all but over
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Robert began the eighth only because Thomson and his coaches assessed the situation and deemed him worthy over rookie Seth Johnson and Joe Ross, the $4 million mop-up man. Matt Gelb, New York Times, 9 July 2025 Firefighters remain on scene conducting heavy mop-up operations. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2025
Verb
These mopped up chemicals were then excreted through feces. Jay Kakade july 12, New Atlas, 12 July 2025 Its all-in-one base can hold up to 60 days’ worth of dirt and enough water to mop up to a 2,000 square-foot area two to three times, plus wash and dry the mopping pads. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for mop-up

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1900, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1811, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mop-up was circa 1811

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Mop-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mop-up. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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