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wipe out

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To completely destroy something so there is nothing left, or to make someone very tired.

Literal meaning: To wipe a surface completely clean — the metaphor of total erasure extends to destruction.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

To completely destroy or eliminate something or someone.

"The forest fire wiped out three villages before it was brought under control."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

(informal) To make someone feel completely exhausted.

"That ten-kilometre run completely wiped me out."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 neutral

To eliminate savings, a debt, or financial resources completely.

"The medical bills wiped out their entire savings in a matter of months."

Grammar: separable
4 B2 idiomatic informal

(surfing/sport, informal) To fall off a surfboard or have a dramatic crash or tumble.

"He wiped out on the biggest wave of the morning and lost his board."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Common across many contexts: military ('wipe out an enemy force'), disease ('wipe out a species'), financial ('wipe out savings'), and informal meaning of exhausting someone. The informal 'wiped out' for tired is very common in spoken American English.

Commonly used with

savings species competition enemy debt population

Forms

Base
wipe out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
wipes out
he/she/it
Past simple
wiped out
yesterday
Past participle
wiped out
have + pp
-ing form
wiping out
continuous

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