wipe

To rub a surface with a cloth or your hand to remove dirt or liquid.

• Wipe the table, please.
• She wiped her face with a towel.
• Have you wiped the kitchen floor?

How to use it: wipe something with something (He wiped the window with a soft cloth.); wipe something clean/dry (She wiped the plates dry.)

Similar words: clean, rub

Common phrases: wipe the table, wipe your hands, wipe something clean

To remove something from a surface by rubbing it.

• Wipe off the dust.
• He wiped sweat from his forehead.
• She wiped away the muddy marks.

How to use it: wipe something off something (She wiped the mud off her shoes.); wipe something away (He wiped his tears away.); wipe something from something (I wiped the dust from the shelf.)

Similar words: rub off, remove

Common phrases: wipe away tears, wipe off dirt, wipe something away

To remove all the information stored on a computer or disk.

• They wiped the old computer.
• Back up your files before you wipe the drive.
• Has someone wiped all the data?

Similar words: erase, delete

Common phrases: wipe a disk, wipe the drive, wipe your phone

To spread a substance over a surface by rubbing it with your hand or an object.

• He wiped paint across the wall.
• She wiped sauce onto her sleeve by mistake.
• Do not wipe oily fingers on your shirt.

How to use it: wipe something on/onto something (He wiped the grease onto his trousers.); wipe something across something (She wiped blue paint across the board.)

Similar words: smear, spread

Common phrases: wipe grease on, wipe paint across, wipe something onto

A small soft piece of material, often wet, used to clean skin or surfaces.

• Use a wipe to clean your hands.
• She packed baby wipes in her bag.
• These wipes are gentle on sensitive skin.

Common phrases: baby wipe, wet wipe, disposable wipe

An act of rubbing a surface to remove dirt or liquid.

• Give the table a wipe.
• One wipe with a cloth removed the dust.
• The mirror needs another quick wipe.

How to use it: give something a wipe (Give the shelf a wipe before putting the books back.)

Common phrases: a quick wipe, give a wipe, a gentle wipe