mop-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈmäp-ˌəp How to pronounce mop-up (audio)
Synonyms of mop-upnext
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
mopped up their rivals
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
I'm almost done with the project. I just need a little time to mop up.

Synonyms of mop-up

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Simpson, meanwhile, only really got a mop-up duty sort of role based on how the game flowed. — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Firefighters knocked down several new blazes Friday, and officials warned crews not to grow complacent during mop-up. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
The agency said crews planned to spend Thursday mopping up remaining hot spots, strengthening and extending containment lines, and ensuring that the fire is secure. — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026 Second balls and counterattacks Hull’s prowess at mopping up second balls is not limited to McBurnie or advanced areas. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for mop-up

See All Rhymes for mop-up

Browse Nearby Words

mopsy
mop-up
mop up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mop-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mop-up. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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