Illustration of skate
plural skates also skate
: any of a family (Rajidae) of rays with the pectoral fins greatly developed giving the fish a flat diamond shape
1
a
: a metal frame that can be fitted to the sole of a shoe and to which is attached a runner or a set of wheels for gliding over ice or a surface other than ice
b
: roller skate
especially
: in-line skate
c
2
: a period of skating
skated; skating
1
: to glide along on skates propelled by the alternate action of the legs
2
: to slip or glide as if on skates
3
: to proceed in a superficial or blithe manner
: to go along or through by skating
1
: a thin awkward-looking or decrepit horse : nag
2
Examples of skate in a Sentence
Verb
hockey players skating into position
Couples skated around the rink.
She skated an excellent program in the competition.
We skate at the park.
The bugs skated along the surface of the water.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mara Santilli,
Flow Space,
2 July 2026
By the 1970s, boardshots had made their way into California skate culture, eventually evolving into the beloved baggy jort.
—
Faran Krentcil,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
5 July 2026
There are flag sweaters and skate sneakers and prairie skirts; there are Cheyanne moccasins and Mennonite bonnets and the not-quite-holy Yankees baseball cap.
—
Faran Krentcil,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for skate
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Noun
Monaghan’s character is also getting back on her feet — on ice skates.
—
Mara Santilli,
Flow Space,
2 July 2026
By the 1970s, boardshots had made their way into California skate culture, eventually evolving into the beloved baggy jort.
—
Faran Krentcil,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
Verb
Some scratches early in this past season led to reports of Mintyukov requesting a trade, but the smooth-skating blueliner improved his play and settled in on Anaheim’s second defense pairing.
—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
5 July 2026
There are flag sweaters and skate sneakers and prairie skirts; there are Cheyanne moccasins and Mennonite bonnets and the not-quite-holy Yankees baseball cap.
—
Faran Krentcil,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for skate
Cite this Entry
“Skate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
skate
1 of 3 noun
: any of numerous rays that have broad winglike fins
skate
2 of 3 noun1
: a metallic runner fitting the sole of a shoe or a shoe with a permanently attached runner used for gliding on ice
2
skate
3 of 3 verb
skated; skating
1
: to glide along on skates
2
: to slide or move as if on skates
skater
noun
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