swipe Meaning & Definition
What Does Swipe Mean?
Swipe is a verb that means To grab or bat quickly. It is also used to mean To strike with a strong blow in a sweeping motion. As a noun, it means A quick grab, bat, or other motion with the hand or paw; a sweep.
Word Facts for Swipe
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /swaɪp/ |
| Synonyms | abstract, sneak and lift |
| Plural | swipes |
| Verb forms | swipes, swiping, swiped |
Swipe Definition (Verb)
- To grab or bat quickly.
The cat swiped at the shoelace.
- To strike with a strong blow in a sweeping motion.
- To scan or register by sliding (a swipecard etc.) through a reader.
He swiped his card at the door.
- To interact with a touch screen by drawing one's finger rapidly across it.
Swipe left to hide the toolbar.
- To swipe right on (someone) on a dating application.
- To steal or snatch.
Hey! Who swiped my lunch?
- To drink.
Swipe as a Noun
- A quick grab, bat, or other motion with the hand or paw; a sweep.
- A strong blow given with a sweeping motion, as with a bat or club.
- An act of interacting with a touch screen by drawing the finger rapidly across it.
- An act of passing a swipecard through a card reader.
- A rough guess; an estimate or swag.
Take a swipe at the answer, even if you're not sure.
- An attack, insult or critical remark.
The politician took a swipe at his opponents.
- Poor, weak beer or other inferior alcoholic beverage; rotgut.
- An instance of swiping, a kind of ellipsis. See swiping.
Synonyms of Swipe
Swipe synonyms and antonyms →Swipe in a Sentence
The cat swiped at the shoelace.
He swiped his card at the door.
Swipe left to hide the toolbar.
Hey! Who swiped my lunch?
Take a swipe at the answer, even if you're not sure.
The politician took a swipe at his opponents.
Word Forms & Grammar
swipe (third-person singular simple present swipes, present participle swiping, simple past and past participle swiped)
swipe (countable and uncountable, plural swipes)
Words That Rhyme With Swipe
Origin of Swipe
From earlier swip (with a short vowel), from Middle English swippen, swype (“to move violently”), from Old English sweopian, swipian, swippan (“to scourge, strike, beat, lash”), from Proto-West Germanic *swippjan, *swipōn, *swipēn, from Proto-Germanic *swipōną, *swipjaną, *swipāną (“to move”), from Proto-Indo-European *sweyb- (“to bend, sway, swing, sweep, swerve, turn”). Cognate with German schwippen (“sway back and forth”), Danish svippe (“to smack; crack a whip”), Icelandic svipa (“riding crop, whip”). Related to sweep, swoop.
Swipe: Your Questions Answered
Is swipe a verb or a noun?
Swipe is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for swipe?
Close synonyms of swipe are abstract, sneak and lift. See the full list of swipe synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of swipe?
The plural of swipe is swipes.
What is the past tense of swipe?
The past tense of swipe is swiped. The present participle is swiping.