swipe

noun

\ ˈswīp

Definition of swipe

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a strong sweeping blow a swipe of a paw

2 : a sharp often critical remark took a parting swipe at management

swipe

verb

swiped; swiping

Definition of swipe (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to strike or move with a sweeping motion

transitive verb

1 : to strike or wipe with a sweeping motion

2 : steal, pilfer

3 : to slide (a card with a magnetic strip or bar code) through a slot in a reading device so that information stored on the strip can be processed (as in making a purchase)

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about swipe

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Examples of swipe in a Sentence

Noun

She took a swipe at her former company in her latest column. a swipe of the cat's paw

Verb

The cat swiped the dog across the nose. They swiped some candy from the store. The cashier swiped the credit card and gave it back to me.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Just as Andy furiously silk-screened, taped, filmed, and collected, editing his reality and keeping the world at bay, we scroll, swipe, and recharge ad infinitum, and reality becomes ever more dissociated from materiality. — Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "1968 vs. 2018: 50 Years Later Fashion Is Still Playing With the Bohemian Rhapsody of the Late, Tumultuous ’60s," 14 Dec. 2018 The artist changes from one face to another almost instantaneously with the swipe of a fan, a movement of the head, or wave of the hand. — Wendy Yu, Vogue, "Dim Sum and Peking Opera: Inside Wendy Yu’s Festive Chinese New Year Party," 24 Jan. 2019 There’s something about making old dark spots and annoying zits disappear with the swipe of a wand (literally) that feels like magic. — Tiffany Dodson, SELF, "The 5 Best Concealers for Acne-Prone Skin, According to Dermatologists," 10 Jan. 2019 Like those sequin-flipping pillows that kids love drawing designs on, Shimmeezs can change colors with just the swipe of a hand. — Lindsey Murray, Good Housekeeping, "Shimmeez Plushies Have Everything Your Kid Is Looking for in a Toy," 26 Oct. 2018 Needless to say, I was slightly intimidated by how intensely pigmented Unveil was with just one swipe. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "Fenty Beauty Is Launching a New Stunna Lip Paint Shade Each Day This Week — and We're Trying Them All," 21 Sep. 2018 With a swipe of your finger, the heart goes from silver to pink or pink to silver. — Christina Barron, The Seattle Times, "The best lunch boxes for kids (and the young at heart)," 16 Aug. 2018 Xenia finishes her routine with a swipe of the classic Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Lip Balm, then heads to bed. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "Xenia Adonts Never Goes To Bed Without Washing Her Face," 14 Aug. 2018 No, this is the mascara that quite literally coats your lashes with an opaque, paint-like level of formula with one swipe, creating a genuine falsie-level finish. — Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, "The 5 Truly Excellent Beauty Products I'm Loving This Week," 24 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In the past, she’s been known to swipe on a fiery lip or tricky blue eye shadow with effortless success. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "Rita Ora Takes This Versace-Approved Makeup Statement for a Spin," 17 Jan. 2019 That means the line is packaged with colorful K-beauty cuteness that does double duty, giving fans one more way to swipe the boy's beauty routines. — Leah Prinzivalli, Teen Vogue, "BTS and VT Cosmetics Revealed Products from Their K-Beauty Collaboration," 10 Oct. 2018 That means the line is packaged with colorful K-beauty cuteness that does double duty, giving fans one more way to swipe the boys' beauty routines. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "BTS and K-Beauty Brand VT Cosmetics Is Launching More Makeup," 10 Oct. 2018 Deng’s first son—Deng Pufang, now 74 and crippled since Red Guards upholding Mao’s Cultural Revolution tortured him—swiped at Mr. Xi’s forward-leaning diplomacy in a September speech. — Chun Han Wong, WSJ, "Xi Jinping’s Strongman Rule Comes Under Fire as China Celebrates Deng’s Reforms," 18 Dec. 2018 In a bid to clean up his mess, the head of a major European government reached for a mop - and started swiping at the spill. — Adam Taylor, ajc, "Dutch leader mops up coffee he spilled and becomes a symbol of etiquette," 6 June 2018 In a bid to clean up his mess, the head of a major European government reached for a mop — and started swiping at the spill. — Adam Taylor, Washington Post, "After mopping up spilled coffee, Dutch leader Mark Rutte becomes a symbol of etiquette," 6 June 2018 Monday was not the first time Apple has swiped at Facebook since the company’s Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal. — Kurt Wagner, Recode, "Apple took another swipe at Facebook," 4 June 2018 MoviePass then loads the exact dollar amount of the ticket onto the card, which the customer swipes at the box office. — Ryan Faughnder, latimes.com, "MoviePass, the $9.95-a-month cinema subscription service, could shake up the film industry — if it survives long enough," 14 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'swipe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.