skim

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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2
3
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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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 Topping that list in the current catalog is a $75,000 golf cart hovercraft for skimming over fairways, bunkers and water hazards alike. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025 Effortlessly chic and elegant, the French bob is slightly textured and blunt at the ends, which skim just above the top of her shoulders. Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2025 The all-star winger then blasted a low shot that skimmed across the PayPal Park grass and went mere inches wide left of the goal. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025 Burkhart executed and skimmed money via sham contracts and business deals. Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skim
Verb
  • If the measure passes, the new map could flip five Republican seats and solidify Democrats’ hold on others.
    Paiching Wei, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025
  • According to Jordan Schultz, the 49ers have landed Skyy Moore in a trade with the Chiefs that will flip 2027 sixth-round and seventh-round picks.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Raft the Animas River Colorado’s world-famous whitewater includes the Animas River, which flows by Durango.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Alcaraz flowed forward behind a forehand, but chose to try to fool Djokovic by volleying back behind him, instead of into space.
    The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Later, Teegan and Ethan reacted to the rumor, brushing it off and calling out Veronica for her behavior.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Watkin recalled colleagues laughing at the situation and brushing her off, thinking that the kindergarten student was actually a third grader due to his size.
    IndyStar, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Robertson broke his bat while bouncing one back to the mound.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Wright has largely worked in England for the past several years, bouncing between rental homes.
    Kim Willis, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Hall used to peek over her aunt’s fence to get a glimpse of the mysterious new kid on the block until her aunt introduced them.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
  • When asked about giving fans a public opportunity to peek into Carrie's enviable closet, the Sex and the City star, 60, revealed during a recent Q&A, hosted by Threads, that an exhibition would definitely be possible, as the show has retained much of her character's wardrobe.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Thanks to the wide-leg cut and handy side pockets, wearing these make gliding through the airport feel like a breeze.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Location Anchored between Blackfriars Bridge and the Tate Modern, Sea Containers is a front-row perch to London’s cultural tide—where the Thames unfurls like a silver sash, ferries gliding past in a daily ballet of commuters and sightseers.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Ansari had about three-quarters of Being Mortal in the can when a female production assistant accused Murray of climbing on top of her in a bed and kissing her through their COVID masks.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The afternoons of those years wore gold like jewelry, and the sun kissed our skin as dust rose behind us in small clouds that the wind.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Significantly, one study showed, fewer residents were skipping medications and more were getting regular care for chronic illnesses in a region that has some of the nation’s highest rates of diseases – including cancer.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Extreme Heat Leads to Missed Doctor's Appointments Extreme heat or cold can lead people—especially older adults and those with chronic conditions—to skip primary care visits.
    Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skim. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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