skim

verb

ˈskim How to pronounce skim (audio)
Definition of skimnext
1
as in to flip
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner I'll just skim through a few styling magazines and see if something interesting catches my eye

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to brush
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing her hand just barely skimmed the wall as she ran down the hallway

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4
as in to bounce
to strike and fly off at an angle the rock just skimmed the surface of the water

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5
as in to peek
to take a quick or hasty look he impatiently skimmed through the book, looking for the specific passage he remembered seeing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of skim Workers were seen skimming the surface of the pool in the end nearest the World War II Memorial. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Someone pulls a trend report, watches a handful of viral videos, skims a research deck, maybe sits in on one focus group, and from that thin base builds a campaign meant to represent an entire community. — Sonia Thompson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The 41-year-old actress appeared in a video for her skincare brand The Outset and showed off her new blonde lob, which barely skimmed her collarbones and featured a subtle curl. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 30 June 2026 Director David Anspaugh, whose resume includes small-town basketball tale Hoosiers and against-all-odds college football biopic Rudy, sticks rigidly to his sporting underdog formula, only skimming the surface of the David-versus-Goliath encounter. — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for skim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skim
  1. flip
  2. flow
  3. brush
  4. bounce
  5. peek
  6. glide
  7. kiss
  8. skip
Verb
  • In the end, Seattle outmaneuvered and outbodied the Sparks, snatching steals and flipping the ball around the perimeter until the Storm fired off a shot.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Ahead of last year’s trade deadline, the Giants flipped Rogers to the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Drew Gilbert and right-hander Blade Tidwell.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Definition of flip
Verb
  • Rainfall — as little as a tenth of an inch, according to the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, or ALCOSAN — can cause an overflow of stormwater and raw sewage to flow into the rivers.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Through the morning, a river of mourners dressed in black flowed from the Grand Mosalla.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • Lightly brush the ribs with bulgogi glaze during the final hour if desired.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The aisles were so choked that blooms and branches brushed against us, the air heady with the scent of lilies, roses, eucalyptus, and sweet decay.
    — Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
Definition of brush
Verb
  • For pitchers bouncing between organizations, one rough outing can change the trajectory of an entire season, and that seems to have been the case with former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Austin Voth.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Messi, while still a brilliant creator and ruthless in the final third, doesn’t have the legs to bounce on the break.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of bounce
Verb
  • More recently, Amal Clooney strolled through the South of France hand-in-hand with husband George in a black micro-mini with shorts peeking out underneath.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • Pull out your wallet and shop our favorite high-end finds, like a stylish outdoor love seat to relax in the garden as the sun peeks from behind the clouds.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2026
Definition of peek
Verb
  • Clear sunscreen sticks glide across the skin without leaving the chalky white cast that mineral formulas can create, and their solid texture means less dripping or rubbing than a lotion.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 2, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • The kit allows the bomb to glide 60 to 80 kilometers following the release from aircraft such as the Su-34, Su-35, and Su-30.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of glide
Verb
  • Once the excitement had died down, the team gathered in a circle and a player went up to Haaland, grabbed the back of his neck and kissed his cheek.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
  • Her shot from distance kissed the post and went in for her third goal of the season.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • Maison Margiela is also skipping the schedule, after last showing couture in July 2025, when creative director Glenn Martens presented his debut for the house.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • The Dodgers, however, could still decide to have Ohtani skip his last pitching start before the All-Star break.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of skip

Browse Nearby Words

skills
skim
skimmed
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Cite this Entry

“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skim. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on skim

Nglish: Translation of skim for Spanish Speakers

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