wiped; wiping
1
a
: to rub with or as if with something soft for cleaning
b
: to clean or dry by rubbing
c
: to draw, pass, or move for or as if for rubbing or cleaning
wiped his hand across his brow
2
a
: to remove by or as if by rubbing
wipe the spots off the glass
b
: to expunge completely
wipe from memory the gruesome scenes—
Amer. Guide Series: Del.
Amer. Guide Series: Del.3
: to spread by or as if by wiping
: to make a motion of or as if of wiping something
Examples of wipe in a Sentence
Verb
Would you wipe the dishes?
She wiped her eyes with a tissue.
We were wiping the spots from the wine glasses.
He wiped his hand across his forehead.
Noun
With a wipe, the spill was gone.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Follow by wiping the area with a clean damp cloth to remove any residue and then dry the surface.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Popular cosmetics brand Neutrogena is recalling makeup wipes that may be contaminated with bacteria that can cause serious infections, including sepsis.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wipe
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Derek Houghton, 51, from Arkansas, wiped sweat off his brow as the temperature pushed into the mid-90s before grand prix qualifying, which Max Verstappen would go on to top.
—Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Follow by wiping the area with a clean damp cloth to remove any residue and then dry the surface.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Moisten the disposable sheets with water and a gentle cleaning agent like Dawn dish soap, then use the DIY wet wipes to clean countertops or messy faces.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Popular cosmetics brand Neutrogena is recalling makeup wipes that may be contaminated with bacteria that can cause serious infections, including sepsis.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wipe
Cite this Entry
“Wipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wipe. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wipe
1 of 2 verb
wiped; wiping
1
: to clean or dry by rubbing
wipe dishes
2
: to remove by or as if by rubbing
wipe away tears
3
: to pass or draw over a surface
wiped my hand across my forehead
wiper
noun
wipe
2 of 2 noun1
: an act or instance of wiping
2
: something used for wiping
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share