mopping

mopping — verb

  • moppingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • moppings3rd person singular
  • moppinging-ing form
  • moppingedpast simple

1. to clean a floor or other flat surface by pushing a wet mop across it, usually a

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to clean a floor or other flat surface by pushing a wet mop across it, usually after applying water or cleaning liquid

Example

Andrew was mopping the kitchen tiles when the delivery van arrived.

mop + noun phrase (kitchen tiles)

The night-shift cleaner mopped the hospital corridor after the last visitor left.

past simple: mopped + location

Common collocations
  • mop the floor
  • mop the kitchen
  • mop up the spill
  • mopping the tiles
Synonyms
  • scrub

    implies harder rubbing with a brush rather than a mop

  • swab

    more common for cleaning ships or medical settings with a mop-like tool

  • wipe

    more general, often used for smaller surfaces

Antonyms
  • dirty

    to make something unclean, the opposite action

Grammar Patterns

mop + noun phrase (floor / kitchen / spill)

mop up + noun phrase (spilled liquid / mess)

Usage Note

The phrasal verb 'mop up' is used when removing a specific spilled liquid. For general floor cleaning, 'mop' alone (without 'up') is more common.

Common Mistakes

I need to mop the dishes.
I need to mop the floor.
'mop' is only used for floors and large flat surfaces, not for washing dishes.
She mopped up the room.
She mopped the room.' / 'She mopped up the spilt milk.
'mop up' requires a specific spill or mess as its object, not a room or area.

2. to rub a part of your body with a cloth, tissue, or your hand in order to remove

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to rub a part of your body with a cloth, tissue, or your hand in order to remove sweat, tears, or other liquid

Example

After the race, Daichi mopped his forehead with a small towel.

mop + possessive + body part + with + cloth

Sirin gently mopped the tears from her daughter's cheeks with a soft cloth.

mop + tears from + body part

Common collocations
  • mop one's brow
  • mop sweat from one's face
  • mop tears from one's eyes
Synonyms
  • wipe

    more general and neutral; 'mop' suggests a more thorough or vigorous wiping motion

  • dab

    implies a gentle, light touch rather than a wiping motion

  • blot

    suggests pressing a cloth against the skin to absorb liquid without rubbing

Grammar Patterns

mop + noun phrase (brow / forehead / face / sweat / tears)

Usage Note

Fixed expression 'mop one's brow' or 'mop one's forehead' for wiping sweat from the face. Slightly more informal than the general verb 'wipe'.

Common Mistakes

He mopped his hands with a towel.
He dried his hands with a towel.
'mop' in this sense is mainly used for the face, brow, and forehead, not for hands.
Phrasal verbs

mop up

phrasal verb

to remove liquid or a mess from a surface using a mop, cloth, or sponge

Wren grabbed a sponge and mopped up the sauce that had dripped onto the table.

The firefighters mopped up the water that had flooded the basement after the pipe burst.

mopping — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five verbs describe making a surface clean, but they differ in tool and technique. 'Mop' specifically means using a long-handled absorbent tool on floors — it is the only word of the five that implies the tool by name. 'Scrub' suggests hard rubbing with a brush or abrasive pad, often to remove stubborn dirt. 'Swab' is used for cleaning with a mop-like tool on ships or in medical settings, or for applying liquid with a cotton pad. 'Wipe' is the most general word and works for any surface (a table, a window, a face) with a cloth or tissue. 'Clean' is the broadest of all, covering any method, tool, or surface. For example: 'She mopped the kitchen floor after dinner' (specific tool + surface), but 'She wiped the counter with a sponge' (smaller surface, different tool).

mop ↗scrub ↗swab ↗wipe ↗clean ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • mop and bucket
  • mop the floor
  • mop up the mess

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'mop' entered English in the late 1400s, most likely from Latin 'mappula', meaning a small napkin or cloth. The same root also gave English the word 'map' (originally a cloth on which a map was drawn). The verb form appeared in the early 1700s, and the metaphorical use for a mass of hair followed in the 1800s.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb