skid

verb

skidded; skidding

transitive verb

1

: to apply a brake or skid to : slow or halt by a skid

2

a

: to haul (logs or something similar) by dragging

cutting and skidding firewood

b

: to haul along, slide, hoist, or store on skids

intransitive verb

1

: to slide without rotating (as a wheel does when it is held from turning while a vehicle moves onward)

2

a

: to fail to grip the roadway

especially : to slip sideways on the road

b

of an airplane : to slide sideways away from the center of curvature when turning

c

: slide, slip

3

: to fall rapidly, steeply, or far

sales skidded last year

Synonyms of skid

• dip
• fall
• tumble
• plunge
• decline
• drop
• sink
• plummet

Examples of skid in a Sentence

The truck skidded on the icy road.

The car skidded off the road and into the gully.

He slammed on the brakes, and the car skidded to a halt.

I skidded on the ice and fell.

Recent Examples on the Web

Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control. —Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026

Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026

Braxton Ashcraft struck out 11 in six innings, Ryan O'Hearn and Nick Gonzales homered, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the skidding Minnesota Twins 9-3 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. —CBS News, 31 May 2026

Braxton Ashcraft struck out 11 in six innings, Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales homered, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the skidding Minnesota Twins 9-3 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. —ABC News, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing skid

• anti-skid
• on skid row
• skid marks
• skid road
• skid row

Rhymes for skid

• bid
• did
• grid
• hid
• id
• lid
• mid
• quid
• rid
• slid
• squid
• amid

Kids Definition

skid

1 of 2 noun

ˈskid 

1

: a log or plank for supporting something (as above the ground)

2

: one of the logs, planks, or rails along or on which something heavy is rolled or slid

3

: a device placed under a carriage wheel to prevent its turning

4

: a runner used as part of the landing gear of an airplane or helicopter

5

: the act of skidding : slide

skid

2 of 2 verb

skidded; skidding

1

: to haul along, slide, hoist, or store on skids

2

: to slide without rotating

the wheels skidded

3

: to fail to grip the roadway

especially : to slip sideways on the road

the car skidded on an icy road