[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/swipe/)

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# swipe

verb (swipe, swipes, swiped, swiping); noun (a swipe, swipes)

«swipe» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To swipe a screen is to move your finger across it to change what is shown: swipe left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#m1)
2. To swipe a card is to pass it through or over a reader to pay or open a door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#m2)
3. To swipe at someone or something is to hit or try to hit with a big swinging movement. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#m3)
4. (informal) To swipe something is to steal it quickly: someone swiped my pen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#m4)
5. A swipe is an unkind comment that criticises someone: he took a swipe at his rival. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#m5)

### In the lessons

Everyday technology: swiping on phones and tablets; «swipe card» for school gates or buses. Online safety: think before you swipe to share or accept anything. Stories: a bear swiped at the fish; a cat took a swipe at the dog. News: politicians «take a swipe» at each other.

### Examples

- Swipe left to see the next photo. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#x1)
- Mum swiped her card to pay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#x2)
- The cat swiped at the string. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#x3)
- Someone swiped my rubber! (informal) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#x4)
- The bear took a swipe at the beehive. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#x5)
- The coach took a swipe at the referee in his interview. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#x6)
- You need a swipe card to get into the building. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/#x7)

### Note

Spelling: swipe drops e before -ing: swiping; past: swiped. The «steal» sense is informal; in formal writing say «stole». Similar: swish, swat (hit), nick (UK slang for steal).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «swipe» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swipe/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«swipe» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/swipe.html) on Mova free.