swipe

The word “swipe” means to steal something, often quickly and casually. In plain terms, to grab or steal something quickly, or to slide your finger/a card across something (like a phone screen or card reader).

“Swipe” is pronounced swyp (/swaɪp/ in IPA).

Here is “swipe” used in a sentence: “Someone swiped his wallet on the crowded train.”

Depending on how it is used, “swipe” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “swipe” comes from Old English. From an earlier form swip, related to Old English words meaning "to strike or lash" — the same root gives us sweep and swoop.

“Swipe” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Swipe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to steal something, often quickly and casually.

Swipe as a verb meaning to take something is generally more casual and often implies a quick, opportunistic, and relatively minor theft, such as swiping a cookie from the kitchen. Steal is broader and neutral in tone, covering theft of any scale or seriousness. Swipe suggests informality and low stakes, while steal can describe serious crimes.

In this sense, swipe means to slide a finger across a touchscreen or slide a card through a reader, such as swiping right on an app or swiping a credit card to pay. This usage is common in technology and everyday transactions and describes a physical sliding motion rather than theft.

Swipe meaning to steal is informal and conversational, not used in formal or legal writing. Formal contexts would use steal, pilfer, or take without permission instead.