wipe away

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To remove something by rubbing it with a cloth or your hand.

   Grammar: Takes an object: wipe away the dirt. The object can come before away: wipe it away.

   Patterns

   • wipe away something
   • wipe something away
   • wipe away tears

   She wiped away the tears from her cheeks.

   He used a cloth to wipe away the spilled milk.

   Please wipe away the dust on the shelf.

2. 2verbtransitivefigurative

   To make a feeling or memory disappear.

   Grammar: Often used with abstract nouns like doubts, fears, or memories.

   Patterns

   • wipe away doubts
   • wipe away memories

   A good laugh can wipe away your worries.

   Time may wipe away the painful memories.

Common combinations

wipe away tears

She wiped away her tears and smiled.

wipe away dirt

He wiped away the dirt from his shoes.

wipe away a stain

Use a damp cloth to wipe away the stain.

wipe away doubts

The results wiped away all doubts about the project.

Synonyms and how they differ

clean

Clean is more general and means to remove dirt from something; wipe away suggests a rubbing motion to remove a specific substance.

erase

Erase is used for marks made by writing or drawing, often with an eraser; wipe away is for liquids or dust.

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “wipe away”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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