skim

1 of 3

verb

skimmed; skimming

transitive verb

1
a
: to clear (a liquid) of scum or floating substance
skim boiling syrup
b
: to remove (a film, a layer of scum, etc.) from the surface of a liquid
c
: to remove cream from by skimming
d
: to remove the best or most easily obtainable contents from
2
: to read, study, or examine superficially and rapidly
especially : to glance through (something, such as a book) for the chief ideas or the plot
3
: to throw in a gliding path
especially : to throw so as to ricochet along the surface of water
4
: to cover with or as if with a film, scum, or coat
5
: to pass swiftly or lightly over
6
a
: to remove or conceal (money, such as a portion of casino profits) to avoid payment of taxes
b
: embezzle
skimming money from employee pension plans

intransitive verb

1
a
: to pass lightly or hastily : glide or skip along, above, or near a surface
b
: to give a cursory glance, consideration, or reading
2
: to become coated with a thin layer of film or scum
3
: to put on a finishing coat of plaster
4
: to embezzle money

skim

2 of 3

noun

1
: a thin layer, coating, or film
2
: the act of skimming
3
: something skimmed
specifically : skim milk

skim

3 of 3

adjective

1
: having the cream removed by skimming
2
: made of skim milk
skim cheese

Examples of skim in a Sentence

Verb He skimmed the leaves from the pool. The cream is skimmed from the milk. The milk is skimmed before it is bottled. She only skimmed the reading assignment. She only skimmed through the reading assignment.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
That bill, House Bill 436, gives a pathway for emergency services to withdraw from urban renewal agencies, which skim new revenue from rising property values and new development and uses that money to help fund more projects. Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2025 For most locations, the upper limb of the moon will skim to within about 20 arc minutes (one-third of a degree) of Mars. Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 June 2025
Noun
Research found that eating a serving of Greek yogurt helped curb appetite more than skim and whole milk yogurt varieties.11 Yogurt consumption is also linked to a lower body mass index (BMI) and body weight and a reduced risk of an elevated waist circumference.12 6. Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 15 May 2025 No one knows for sure who holds the record for the longest pond skim in the world, without an international skim-off. Anna Fiorentino, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skim

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English skymmen, skemen, probably from Anglo-French escumer, from escume foam, scum, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schum scum — more at scum

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of skim was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skim. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

skim

1 of 3 verb
skimmed; skimming
1
a
: to clear a liquid of scum or floating substance : remove (as film or scum) from the surface of a liquid
b
: to remove cream from by skimming
2
: to glance through (as a book) for the chief ideas or the plot
3
: to throw so as to bounce along the surface of water
4
: to pass swiftly or lightly over : glide or skip along, above, or near a surface

skim

2 of 3 noun
1
: a thin layer, coating, or film
2
: the act of skimming
3
: something skimmed
especially : skim milk

skim

3 of 3 adjective
: having the cream removed by skimming

More from Merriam-Webster on skim

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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