# wiping

/ˈwaɪpɪŋ/ (US) · /wˈaɪpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wiping
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. cleaning a surface

verb · CEFR A2

rubbing a surface with a cloth or your hand to make it clean or dry.

For teachers: the act of rubbing a surface with pressure, typically using a cloth or absorbent material, to remove moisture, dirt, or unwanted substances.

- She spent the morning wiping the kitchen counters until they were spotless.
- Wiping the condensation from the windshield proved difficult until the car's internal heating system finally began to circulate warm air.

### 2. removing data

verb · CEFR B2

deleting all the information from a computer, phone, or hard drive.

For teachers: the process of completely erasing digital information from a storage medium so that it cannot be recovered.

- Before selling your old phone, you should finish wiping all your personal data.
- The IT department recommended wiping the hard drives of all decommissioned laptops to ensure that sensitive corporate intelligence remained secure.

### 3. the act of rubbing

noun · CEFR B1

the physical act of cleaning something by rubbing it once or twice.

For teachers: a single instance or the continuous action of rubbing a surface for cleaning or drying purposes.

- The table only needs a quick wiping to get rid of the dust.
- A thorough wiping of the laboratory equipment is mandatory after every experiment to prevent cross-contamination between chemical samples.

### 4. a total defeat

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a situation where one side is beaten very badly in a game or fight.

For teachers: a decisive or humiliating defeat in a physical confrontation or competitive context.

- Our team suffered a real wiping in the finals last night.
- After the unexpected wiping they received in the first round, the champions had to completely rethink their defensive strategy for the remainder of the season.

## Examples

- She is wiping the kitchen table with a damp cloth.
- After the rain stopped, the staff spent twenty minutes wiping the outdoor chairs so customers could sit down.
- While the chef was busy preparing the main course, the kitchen assistant was methodically wiping every countertop to maintain a sterile environment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.