What Does “Wipe sth out” Mean?
“Wipe sth out” means to completely destroy or remove something, often leaving nothing behind.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “wipe sth out” is commonly used in English to describe the action of erasing, destroying, or eliminating something entirely. Whether talking about natural disasters wiping out a town or mistakes being wiped out in editing, this phrase is versatile and useful. Understanding the “wipe sth out meaning” helps you express total removal or destruction clearly and effectively in everyday conversations and writing.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: wipe something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to completely destroy or eliminate something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Wipe out” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- wipe something out
- wipe out something
Both forms are correct, but “wipe something out” is more common.
How to Use Wipe sth out?
Use “wipe sth out” when you want to say that something is completely destroyed, removed, or eliminated. It often refers to physical destruction but can also be used metaphorically, such as wiping out debts or mistakes.
Example contexts include natural disasters, accidents, financial losses, or erasing information.
Examples
After the hurricane, the entire village was wiped out.
- The flood wiped out all the crops in the field.
- They worked hard to wipe out the errors in the report.
- The disease wiped out a large part of the population.
- Our team hopes to wipe out their lead in the second half.
These examples show how to use “wipe sth out in a sentence” naturally and clearly.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use the wrong preposition.
- Incorrect: They wiped out the mistake off the paper.
- Correct: They wiped out the mistake from the paper.
- Incorrect: She wiped out off the old files.
- Correct: She wiped out the old files.
Remember, “wipe out” does not need extra prepositions after the object.
Differences / Synonyms
“Wipe sth out” is similar to “erase,” “destroy,” and “eliminate,” but it often implies total or complete removal.
- Erase: Usually means removing marks or data, often less dramatic than wipe out.
- Destroy: Means to damage severely but doesn’t always mean total removal.
- Eliminate: Means to remove, but can be less physical and less total than “wipe out.”
Choose “wipe sth out” when emphasizing complete and total destruction or removal.
Common Collocations
Many common objects and ideas can be used with “wipe sth out.”
- Wipe out debt: to completely pay off or remove financial debt
- Wipe out mistakes: to erase errors
- Wipe out a population: to cause the death or removal of many people
- Wipe out crops: to destroy plants or harvests
- Wipe out a team: to defeat a sports team decisively
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of wipe sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “wipe sth out”:
Anna: Did you hear about the wildfire? It wiped out the whole forest near the town.
Ben: That’s terrible! I hope no animals were harmed.
Anna: Unfortunately, many were affected. It wiped out their homes.
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct form of “wipe out”:
- The storm __________ all the houses in the village.
- We need to __________ the errors before submitting the report.
- The new law aims to __________ poverty in the country.
- His illness almost __________ his savings.
FAQ
- What does “wipe sth out” mean? It means to completely destroy or remove something.
- Is “wipe out” separable? Yes, you can say “wipe something out” or “wipe out something.”
- Can “wipe out” be used figuratively? Yes, it can refer to non-physical things like debts or mistakes.
- Is “wipe out” formal or informal? It is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts.
- What are some synonyms for “wipe sth out”? Erase, destroy, eliminate.
