Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding 'Wiped Out': Uses and Examples

"In life, dreams may be wiped out by storms, but resilience rebuilds what once was lost, creating pathways of new hope and growth."

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb 'wiped out' means to destroy or remove completely, often used figuratively to describe total elimination or defeat.

Examples in context

The disease nearly wiped out the entire population of the island.
The intense competition wiped out several small businesses last year.
Years of abuse had wiped out his enthusiasm for the sport.

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb 'wiped out' means to destroy or remove completely, often used figuratively to describe total elimination or defeat.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

The object can go between 'wiped' and 'out' or after 'out', e.g., 'wiped the village out' or 'wiped out the village'.

Informal

Commonly used in casual conversation and informal writing.

Transitive

Yes

Requires a direct object to indicate what is being wiped out.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	wipe out	The virus might wipe out entire species.
Past Simple	wiped out	The hurricane wiped out coastal communities last year.
Present Continuous	wiping out	They are wiping out outdated regulations.
Present Perfect	have wiped out	Scientists have wiped out several invasive species in the region.

💡 When to Use

Describing destruction or elimination

Use when talking about something being completely destroyed, removed, or thoroughly defeated.

Example: "The fire wiped out the entire forest."

Talking about exhaustion

Use when describing someone feeling extremely tired or exhausted after an activity.

Example: "After the marathon, I was completely wiped out."

Discussing financial loss

Use when explaining severe financial loss or bankruptcy in a business or personal context.

Example: "The stock market crash wiped out his savings."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Using without a direct object

❌ Wrong: The storm wiped out quickly.

✅ Correct: The storm wiped out the village quickly.

💡 Tip: Always specify what is being wiped out.

Incorrect past tense usage

❌ Wrong: They have wipe out the problem.

✅ Correct: They have wiped out the problem.

💡 Tip: Remember to use 'wiped' for past tense.

Using in formal contexts

❌ Wrong: The report indicated profit was wiped out.

✅ Correct: The report indicated profit was eradicated.

💡 Tip: Use 'eradicated' for formal contexts.

Practice

WIPED OUT - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

The disease nearly wiped out the entire population of the island.
Words Multiplied
2
Listen to example

The intense competition wiped out several small businesses last year.
Words Multiplied
3
Listen to example

Years of abuse had wiped out his enthusiasm for the sport.
Words Multiplied

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

eradicated eliminated

Antonyms

restored

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"The earthquake ___ the small town."

washed over

wiped out

set up

looked after

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Wiped Out

What is the origin of wiped out?

The phrase 'wiped out' originates from the early 20th century, particularly popularized in American slang. It originally referred to the act of erasing or cleaning a surface completely. Over time, it evolved to express complete destruction or elimination in various contexts.

Can wiped out be used in formal and informal contexts?

While 'wiped out' is primarily used in informal contexts due to its vivid and colloquial nature, it can occasionally appear in neutral formal writing when describing total elimination. In strictly formal contexts, synonyms like 'eradicated' or 'eliminated' might be preferred.

What is the difference between wiped out and eradicated?

While both 'wiped out' and 'eradicated' imply complete removal or destruction, 'wiped out' is more informal and often evokes imagery of thorough wiping or clearing, potentially highlighting the forcefulness of the action. 'Eradicated' is more formal and commonly used in scientific or official contexts.

Browse All Words Multiplied Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

WIPED OUT - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Wiped Out

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega