1
2
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skim
On a June morning in 2023, David and his wife had just finished a hike and were snacking on crispbreads and cheese at a picnic table in a park near their apartment when David skimmed his cellphone.
—
Serge F. Kovaleski, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Even better, Rove doesn’t mark up or skim the margins.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The cotton doesn’t have any stretch, but that doesn’t really matter because of the A-line silhouette that flows away from my body, just barely skimming my hips before belling out around my mid-calf.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
Only skimming the surface Scurfield, who attends Sunshine Village’s Slush Cup every year, has only competed once, skimming and sinking in the 110-foot-long pond in a 1980s ski bunny getup.
—Anna Fiorentino, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skim
Serge F. Kovaleski, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Even better, Rove doesn’t mark up or skim the margins.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The cotton doesn’t have any stretch, but that doesn’t really matter because of the A-line silhouette that flows away from my body, just barely skimming my hips before belling out around my mid-calf.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
Only skimming the surface Scurfield, who attends Sunshine Village’s Slush Cup every year, has only competed once, skimming and sinking in the 110-foot-long pond in a 1980s ski bunny getup.
—Anna Fiorentino, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skim
Verb
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The town of London, 75 miles south of Lexington, was devastated − with entire neighborhoods razed with homes reduced to rubble, downed power lines and cars flipped and strewn onto yards.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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The intimacy coordinator would come over with an iPad and flip through new positions.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
19 May 2025
Verb
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The bigger the bottleneck, the more freely the contents of the bottle flow through it.—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 May 2025
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The iconic teen drama kept emotions flowing from 1998 to 2003.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Verb
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This often includes disinfecting boots and brushing off any soil or plant material.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2025
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Our lives are assembled from hundreds of small rituals: brushing our teeth, brewing our morning coffee, or arranging our pillows just so before going to be.—
Tom Mylan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Lopez was making just his third career start after bouncing between Triple-A and MLB with the Tampa Bay Rays over the previous two seasons.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
24 May 2025
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However, once again, Indiana found some magic behind Aaron Nesmith's 20-point fourth quarter and unconscious three-point shooting and came back to force overtime on a Haliburton step-back jumper that bounced high off of the rim and fell down through.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
Verb
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The sun peeked out, but brisk winds were blowing and temperatures only climbed to the high 40s near the lakefront.—
Susan DeGrane,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
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Leaded-glass panes peek through arched openings, winking at the past.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
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The formula glides on without tugging or feathering, and hydrates with jojoba, shea, and coconut oils.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
18 May 2025
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Pedri glides through games with the ball and runs his socks off without it, while showing incredible elegance and poise.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Other sweet shots include Harley kissing her fiancé in his arms, and two celebratory engagement cakes.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
24 Mar. 2025
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In the video, baby Sofia can be seen giggling in her bouncer as Ree sings, plays and tickles her, as well as kissing the happy infant, who looks cute in a floral sleeper.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Now, the 20-year-old takes daily birth control pills and skips the placebo week to suppress her menstrual cycle and preserve her right ovary – so far, it’s worked.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
25 May 2025
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The Times also soft-pedaled the introduction of the pope’s lineage by skipping a generation and attributing his Blackness to his maternal grandparents, Joseph and Louise Martínez.—
Rebecca R. Bibbs,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skim. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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