Word
sweeps
US/ˈswips/
UK/swˈiːps/
Definition
n. a special time of year when television stations track how many people are watching their shows. This data helps them decide how much to charge for commercials.
n. specific periods during the year when television audience sizes are measured to determine advertising rates. Usually occurs in November, February, May, and July in the United States.
Examples
“The network aired its biggest movie during the November sweeps.”
“Television networks often schedule major plot twists or celebrity guest appearances during sweeps to boost their viewership numbers.”
“Because advertising revenue is directly tied to these ratings periods, local stations invest heavily in sensational news coverage and high-budget specials throughout the duration of the sweeps.”
Examples
simple
“The network aired its biggest movie during the November sweeps.”
contextual
“Television networks often schedule major plot twists or celebrity guest appearances during sweeps to boost their viewership numbers.”
complex
“Because advertising revenue is directly tied to these ratings periods, local stations invest heavily in sensational news coverage and high-budget specials throughout the duration of the sweeps.”
Usage
Typically used as a plural noun without an article when referring to the period itself.
Real-World Examples
“The fires come as a severe heatwave sweeps across Algeria and neighbouring Tunisia.” “Harvey Barnes sweeps the ball home to score Newcastle’s third goal.” “The poem sweeps through time and history in the names and stories of flora and fauna, as light as skimming your fingers through summer grasses.” Etymology
From sweep + -s (pluralia tantum suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/sweeps