Meaning & use

swipe

verb·Everyday

To strike or wipe with a swift, sweeping motion, or to slide a card or finger across a surface.

See it in a sentence

He swiped his badge at the door and stepped into the office building.

The cat swiped at the ball of yarn as it rolled past the chair.

A note on using this word

Informally, swipe also means to steal something quickly, as in 'someone swiped my pen.'

Words with a similar meaning

slidestrike

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To take something without permission, especially quickly and casually; to steal.

Someone swiped my umbrella from the stand while I was in the meeting.

Make it your own

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