“Wipe” vs. “Wipe Off”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “wipe” and “wipe off”

  • "Wipe" means to clean or dry by rubbing with a piece of cloth or one's hands, while "wipe off" means to rub a certain substance off a surface.
  • "Wipe off" is used more commonly in the context of removing something from an object or surface, while "wipe" is more general.
  • "Wipe" can refer to the general process of cleaning a surface, while "wipe off" is more specific to eliminating a visible substance off the surface.
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What is the definition of “wipe” and “wipe off”?

Wipe
  • To clean or dry something by rubbing its surface with a cloth, a piece of paper, or one's hand.
  • To eliminate any unwanted substances from a surface.
  • To get rid of something completely or erase something from existence.
Wipe off
  • To remove dirt, liquid, or any other substance from the surface of something by using a cloth or one's hand.
  • To remove something from a surface by brushing, sweeping, or rubbing it off.
  • To eliminate or erase something that is unwanted or undesirable.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Wipe” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Wipe
215,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Please wipe the table before eating.
  2. I will wipe my hands with a napkin after lunch.
  3. The technician wiped all data from the computer.
Wipe off
10,900,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I need to wipe off my makeup before going to bed.
  2. He wiped off the salt that had fallen on his apron.
  3. You should always wipe off your shoes before entering the house.
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