skim

1 of 3

verb

ˈskim 

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

Synonyms of skim

Verb

• flip

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

Verb

Meanwhile, those with a more feminine sensibility will find more versatility in a streamlined waist-skimming cut. — Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 18 Sep. 2026

Instead, the dress flows from the shoulders and loosely skims the body. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026

Noun

Whole-milk varieties contain more calories and fat – about 140 calories and 8 grams of fat per cup – while skim, 1% and 2% varieties generally contain less. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

Anyone who has ever seen a medical drama knows about drug diversion — when hospital staff skim from or steal a medication that was meant for a patient. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing skim

• skim milk
• skim off

Rhymes for skim

• brim
• clim
• dim
• grim
• gym
• him
• hymn
• im
• limb
• mim
• prim
• rim

Kids Definition

skim

1 of 3 verb

ˈskim 

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