1
as in flipping
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
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops
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3
as in brushing
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
her hand just barely skimmed the wall as she ran down the hallway
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4
as in bouncing
to strike and fly off at an angle
the rock just skimmed the surface of the water
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5
as in glancing
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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Recent Examples of skimming
According to Oza’s analyses, the erupting orb would have to be within one planetary radius of WASP-39b—practically skimming the planet’s cloud tops.
—
Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025
Years before her success in tech, Kinjil Mathur spent her summers as a college student skimming telephone books to find the contacts of businesses and professionals in her city.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
According to the brand, the wind and sun there evaporate 90 percent of the fresh water in these marshes, leaving behind salt crystals at the bottom that are harvested using a skimming tool.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
Juni was shot in the head twice, with one bullet skimming her eye, and the other shattering her jaw.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skimming
Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025
Years before her success in tech, Kinjil Mathur spent her summers as a college student skimming telephone books to find the contacts of businesses and professionals in her city.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
According to the brand, the wind and sun there evaporate 90 percent of the fresh water in these marshes, leaving behind salt crystals at the bottom that are harvested using a skimming tool.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
Juni was shot in the head twice, with one bullet skimming her eye, and the other shattering her jaw.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skimming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skimming
Verb
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Grill, covered, until wings form a nice crust and char, 5 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through grilling time.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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After spinning, flipping and twirling their hearts out, the pair received a score of 34 from the judges.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If the Chinese truly agree to keep the supply of critical minerals flowing on an ongoing basis, the world will win.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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European security sources believe a similarly opaque system, involving front companies that are little more than fake numbers and billing addresses, has been used to keep the sodium perchlorate flowing to Iran.—
Melissa Bell,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Her bob cut complemented the neckline, with her blond tips just barely brushing her collarbone.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
29 Oct. 2025
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Sandra would go days in the same pajamas, not brushing her teeth, not washing her hair.—
Sean Williams,
Outside,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Fulham’s longest-serving head coach since the 1960s, the man who ended their years bouncing between the Championship and Premier League, will surely navigate a path to safety.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Then, the camera panned over to Kelce, who was energetically bouncing up and down with his hand over his heart.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But remember - even just glancing at the sun with a pair of binoculars can lead to permanent loss of vision.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
22 Oct. 2025
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There should be either less or more; my hope was, in undertaking it, to do something with the style equivalent to the glancing way this woman’s mind—at a guess—works.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Others may prefer Zodiac boat cruising, helicopter rides, or submarine dives.—
Ashton Palmer,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
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Dozens of those over-the-top displays will be on our annual holiday lights map, which is used by individuals, bus tours, limo parties and others who have made cruising the Phoenix area in search of the biggest and brightest part of their holiday tradition.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In early October, Perry and Trudeau were photographed kissing while aboard the singer's yacht, the Caravelle, off the coast of Santa Barbara.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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Then, earlier in October, the couple was seen kissing on a yacht off the coast of Santa Barbara.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In an interview with People around the time the book came out, Knowles emphasized the importance of never skipping mammogram appointments.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
28 Oct. 2025
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At the time of his arrest, Scott had an open warrant for skipping court in a 2022 burglary case, in which he was accused of breaking into his mother’s apartment building with two other men and stealing items including a ladder.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skimming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skimming. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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