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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flowing
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 brushing
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
as in bouncing
to strike and fly off at an angle
the rock just skimmed the surface of the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 skimming
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
Before using any card reader, check for alignment issues that could be a card skimming device.
—Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skimming
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
Before using any card reader, check for alignment issues that could be a card skimming device.
—Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skimming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skimming
Verb
-
The wing on the back of the GTD is active, flipping up at speed, just like the drag reduction system (DRS) on a Formula 1 car.—
Tim Stevens,
Robb Report,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste won the electoral district of Terrebonne, north of the city of Montreal, by just one vote, flipping a seat that had long been held by the Bloc Québécois, Canada’s Quebec separatist party.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Just below her hips was a flowing tulle design.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
By the next year, hundreds of thousands of dollars from people with links to the developers began flowing into the campaign coffers of state Republican lawmakers, campaign expense reports show.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This combination can turn daily, simple tasks like washing hands or brushing teeth into an entire cleaning session.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The storm’s outer bands are already brushing Jamaica and western Haiti, where hurricane watches are in effect.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
News of Bishop’s name in the squad was met with huge excitement and had Fratton Park bouncing at kick-off.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
It’s designed with a foam insole that stores and returns your energy, bouncing you into your next step.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Others may prefer Zodiac boat cruising, helicopter rides, or submarine dives.—
Ashton Palmer,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
After not being seen together again for a few months, Perry and Trudeau were then photographed in September, hugging and kissing on a yacht off the coast of Santa Barbara.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Before that moment, photos had surfaced of Perry and Trudeau kissing on a yacht, following earlier sightings of them dining together in Canada shortly after Trudeau attended Perry’s July concert in Montreal.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Viewing Prep Work as Optional Paint might seem like an instant upgrade, but skipping prep work is a shortcut to disaster.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Rapoport spoke about the struggles that Miami has had, including the controversy with Tua Tagovailoa calling out his own teammates for skipping player-only meetings.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skimming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skimming. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share