To swipe means to slide your finger across a touchscreen to make something happen. You might swipe left or right to see different photos, swipe up to unlock your phone, or swipe through pages in a digital book. This meaning only became common after smartphones and tablets were invented, when people needed a word for this new way of interacting with screens.

The word also means to steal something quickly, usually something small. A sneaky student might try to swipe a cookie from the kitchen when no one's looking, or someone at the pool might swipe your towel by mistake. This meaning suggests quick, casual theft rather than serious robbery.

Swipe can also mean to hit or swing at something with a sweeping motion. A cat might swipe at a toy with its paw, or you might take a swipe at a piñata during a party.

The swipe of a credit card refers to sliding it through a card reader, though modern cards usually just get tapped instead. People also talk about taking a swipe at someone, meaning to criticize them, like when a comedian takes a swipe at a politician during a joke.