wipe out
B2Informal
Definition
Meaning
to completely destroy, eliminate, or remove; to fall or be knocked from a surfboard, bicycle, etc.
to exhaust or tire someone completely; to lose control and crash in a sport; to use up or deplete completely; to obliterate a debt or record.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a phrasal verb. Can be transitive or intransitive. In its 'destroy' sense, it implies totality and finality. In sports, it implies a sudden, often spectacular, loss of control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use it similarly. 'Wipeout' as a noun (a fall in surfing/skating) is slightly more common in American English but well understood in British English.
Connotations
Equally informal and vivid in both varieties.
Frequency
High frequency in both, with perhaps a slight edge in American English due to stronger surf/skate culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] wipes out [Object][Subject] wipes out[Subject] is wiped outVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Wipe the slate clean”
- “Wipe that smile off your face (related in concept of removal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The bad investment wiped out our quarterly profits."
Academic
"The epidemic wiped out 60% of the indigenous population."
Everyday
"I'm completely wiped out after that long walk." / "He wiped out on his skateboard."
Technical
"The surge protector prevented the lightning strike from wiping out the server's memory."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The virus could wipe out the entire badger population.
- I'm absolutely wiped out after that revision session.
- He wiped out on the wet pavement while cycling.
American English
- The hurricane wiped out the coastal town.
- I'm totally wiped out from the jet lag.
- She wiped out trying a kickflip at the skatepark.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- (less common as adjective) He was in a wiped-out state after the marathon.
American English
- (less common as adjective) The wiped-out surfer dragged himself back to shore.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The strong wind wiped out my sandcastle.
- I wiped out on my bike.
- The new law aims to wipe out illegal fishing.
- After the gym, I feel completely wiped out.
- The financial crisis wiped out their life savings.
- He took a corner too fast and had a spectacular wipeout.
- The policy inadvertently wiped out several small businesses in the sector.
- Archaeological evidence suggests the volcanic eruption wiped out the settlement within days.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a sponge WIPING a whiteboard: it moves across and the writing is OUT, gone completely.
Conceptual Metaphor
ERASURE IS DESTRUCTION (wiping a slate). PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION IS BEING ERASED (wiped out).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите буквально как 'вытирать снаружи'.
- В значении 'устать' не является прямым эквивалентом 'устал' - сильнее, ближе к 'вымотаться, выбиться из сил'.
- В спортивном значении ('упасть') не имеет прямого однословного эквивалента, описывается 'слететь с доски/упасть'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'wipe off' instead of 'wipe out' for total destruction (wipe off is for surfaces).
- Confusing 'worn out' (damaged from use) with 'wiped out' (exhausted or destroyed).
- Incorrect transitivity: 'The disease wiped out' (intransitive) vs. 'The disease wiped out the village' (transitive).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'wipe out' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally informal, especially in the 'exhausted' and 'fall' senses. It can be used in formal contexts like academic writing when describing total destruction.
Yes. As a verb meaning 'to fall from a surfboard, bike, etc.' it is intransitive (e.g., 'He wiped out on the wave'). The adjective meaning 'exhausted' is also intransitive (e.g., 'I am wiped out').
'Wipe out' means to destroy or eliminate completely. 'Wipe off' means to clean or remove something from a surface (e.g., 'wipe off the dust').
Yes, 'wipeout' is a standard noun, particularly referring to a fall in surfing, skating, or cycling (e.g., 'He had a nasty wipeout').