What does the phrasal verb “wipe out” mean?

What are the definitions of “wipe out”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Make someone very tired.

  Revising for the exam last night WIPED me OUT.

• 2. Kill all of a population, make extinct.

  A meteor crashing into the planet WIPED the dinosaurs OUT.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “wipe out”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb wipe out is to completely destroy or eliminate something, such as a population or a group. It can also mean to make someone very tired or exhausted.

What are the different verb forms of “wipe out”?

Root Verb	wipe out
Third Person Singular Present	wipes out
Present Participle	wiping out
Simple Past	wiped out
Past Participle	wiped out

Example

The storm wiped out the entire village.

Example

She wipes out her energy by working too hard.

Example

The disease is wiping out the crops in the region.

Example

The flood wiped out their home.

Example

The forest fire wiped out many trees and animals.

What kind of phrasal verb is “wipe out”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“wipe out” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

The hurricane wiped out the coastal town.

Example

Studying all night wiped me out.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“wipe out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

The hurricane wiped out the coastal town.

Example

Studying all night wiped me out.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “wipe out”?

Wipe out a debt

To completely pay off a debt or eliminate it.

Example

Winning the lottery allowed her to wipe out her student loans.

Wipe out a memory

To completely forget or erase a memory.

Example

The trauma was so severe that he wiped out the memory from his mind.

Wipe out in sports

To fall or crash, especially in surfing or skateboarding.

Example

He wiped out while trying to perform a difficult skateboard trick.

Good things to know

Does “wipe out” have an informal or formal tone?

Wipe out is generally considered informal and is more commonly used in casual conversations. In more formal settings, it is better to use synonyms like 'eliminate', 'eradicate', or 'exhaust'.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “wipe out”?

Synonyms

• eliminate
• eradicate
• destroy
• exhaust
• deplete
• annihilate
• extirpate
• obliterate

Antonyms for {keyword}

• create
• build
• establish
• preserve
• protect
• save
• support
• sustain