balayer

Senses

1. 1.

   to sweep

   to clean a surface by brushing with a broom

2. 2.

   to sweep away, to brush aside

   to remove or dismiss something quickly or completely

3. 3.

   to sweep across, to scan

   to move across a surface or area in a sweeping motion

Examples

• "Je dois balayer la cuisine avant le dîner."

  I have to sweep the kitchen before dinner.

• "Il a balayé ses doutes et s'est lancé dans le projet."

  He brushed aside his doubts and threw himself into the project.

• "Son regard a balayé la foule en quête d'un visage familier."

  His gaze swept across the crowd looking for a familiar face.

Usage

A regular -er verb. The figurative sense (to dismiss, to sweep away) is very common in modern French. Note the spelling change before 'a' or 'o': je balaye, nous balayons (to preserve the soft 'ay' sound).