swipe
SWAHYP
/swaɪp/
To move one's finger across a touchscreen to interact with a dating profile, typically right for 'like' and left for 'dislike'.
While it literally describes a physical motion, it has become a metaphor for the rapid-fire, often superficial nature of modern selection.
The story behind the word. The word 'swipe' dates back to the 13th century, originally meaning to strike a blow with a sweeping motion. It evolved into its modern digital sense with the advent of the first smartphones, eventually becoming the defining gesture of the app Tinder in 2012.
Word relationships
- scroll: Scrolling is a vertical movement for viewing content, whereas swiping is a horizontal movement for making a choice.
Word family
- swiping (noun): The act of moving a finger across a screen.
Collocations
- swipe right
- swipe left
- swipe culture
- mindless swiping
Idioms & expressions
- swipe right on someone
Example sentences
- "She decided to swipe left on his profile after seeing a picture of him with a tiger."
- "In the era of the swipe, first impressions are made in less than a second." A cultural observation on dating apps.
Memory hook
Think of a 'Wipe'—you are wiping the screen to either keep or clear a profile. Swipe to Type or Swipe to Like.
When not to use
Avoid in formal technical documentation unless specifically referring to UI/UX gestures.
Fun facts
- The 'swipe right' gesture was patented by Tinder's parent company, Match Group.
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