skim

skim — verb

1. to move fast and close to a surface without landing on it, passing by with only

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to move fast and close to a surface without landing on it, passing by with only light or no contact

Example

A seabird skimmed across the waves looking for fish.

skim + across + noun phrase showing path

The small boat skimmed over the calm lake toward the island.

Common collocations
  • skim across
  • skim over
  • skim along
  • skim the surface
Synonyms
  • glide

    Suggests smoother, more sustained movement without any contact

  • brush

    Implies actual light contact, not just near-miss movement

Antonyms
  • plunge

    Sudden deep movement into something rather than passing over it

Grammar Patterns

skim + over/across + noun phrase

skim + noun phrase (the surface)

Usage Note

Often takes a prepositional phrase with 'over' or 'across' describing the surface. When used transitively, the object is typically the surface itself (e.g. 'skim the water').

Common Mistakes

The plane skimmed the runway and landed.
The plane skimmed the runway before lifting off again.
'skim' means light or no contact, not a normal landing.

2. to make a flat stone or similar object bounce across water by throwing it at a l

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to make a flat stone or similar object bounce across water by throwing it at a low angle so that it rises each time it touches the surface

Example

Dahlia taught her younger brother how to skim stones at the beach.

pattern: skim + stones (plural, generic object)

Christopher watched the flat pebble skim across the water seven times.

Common collocations
  • skim a stone
  • skim pebbles
  • skim across the water
  • flat stone for skimming
Synonyms
  • skip

    More common term in British English for the same activity ('skip stones')

  • bounce

    Describes the motion of the stone but is not used as a verb for the whole action

Grammar Patterns

skim + a stone/pebble + across/over + noun phrase

the stone + skims + across + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly appears with 'stone' or 'pebble' as the object. The activity is often called 'skipping stones' in American English. The stone needs to be flat and light for the action to work.

3. to read something fast, focusing only on the main ideas or specific details inst

3.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to read something fast, focusing only on the main ideas or specific details instead of every word

Example

Élise skimmed the newspaper headlines while waiting for her coffee.

skim + the + newspaper headlines — typical object for quick reading

Ritu skimmed through the report to find the budget numbers.

Common collocations
  • skim through
  • skim over
  • skim a document
  • skim a report
  • skim the page
Synonyms
  • scan

    Aims to find a specific piece of information rather than the main ideas

  • browse

    More casual, often without a clear purpose; looking through without focus

  • glance through

    Even quicker and less thorough than skim

Antonyms
  • study

    To read carefully and in depth, the opposite of reading fast for main points

  • pore over

    To read with great attention and detail

Grammar Patterns

skim + noun phrase (document, report, book)

skim + through + noun phrase

skim + over + noun phrase

Usage Note

Can be used transitively ('skim a document') or with 'through' ('skim through a chapter'). Unlike 'scan', which targets specific information, 'skim' focuses on grasping the overall structure and main points.

Common Mistakes

I skimmed the book by reading every page carefully.
I skimmed the book by looking at the headings and first sentences of each section.
skimming means reading fast for key points, not careful word-by-word reading.

4. to take away a solid or semi-solid substance such as fat, foam, or cream from th

4.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to take away a solid or semi-solid substance such as fat, foam, or cream from the top of a liquid

Example

Mauricio skimmed the foam from the top of the soup before serving it.

pattern: skim + substance + from + top of + liquid

Use a large spoon to skim the fat off the surface of the broth.

Common collocations
  • skim off
  • skim from
  • skim the fat
  • skim the cream
  • skim the foam
Synonyms
  • scoop off

    Uses a different action — a scooping motion rather than a light surface pass

  • remove

    More general term without the specific surface-passing action

Grammar Patterns

skim + noun phrase + from/off + noun phrase

skim + noun phrase (the liquid itself)

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'from' or 'off' to separate the removed substance from the liquid. The removed material is always lighter than the liquid and floating on top.

Common Mistakes

She skimmed the soup to remove the vegetables from the bottom.
She skimmed the foam from the top of the soup.
skimming only removes surface material, not items at the bottom.

5. to steal the digital data stored on a payment card by passing it through a hidde

5.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to steal the digital data stored on a payment card by passing it through a hidden reader, typically in order to commit fraud

Example

Thieves skimmed dozens of credit card numbers at the gas station.

The bank warned customers about a device used to skim card data.

passive: device used to skim + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • skim credit cards
  • skim card data
  • skim card details
  • skim a card
Synonyms
  • clone

    Implies copying the data onto a new card, a step that comes after skimming

  • swipe illegally

    Describes the action more generally without the technical precision

Grammar Patterns

skim + credit card(s)/card data/card details

Usage Note

A relatively new meaning tied to electronic payment fraud. The hidden devices used are often called 'skimmers'. Common in news reports about data theft and cybersecurity.

6. to secretly remove modest sums of cash, typically from a workplace register or f

6.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to secretly remove modest sums of cash, typically from a workplace register or fund, often doing it bit by bit to avoid notice

Example

The accountant was caught skimming small amounts from the company fund.

passive: was caught + skimming + amount + from + source

Eri discovered that a coworker had been skimming cash from the register.

Common collocations
  • skim money
  • skim funds
  • skim from the till
  • skim cash
  • skim profits
  • skim earnings
Synonyms
  • embezzle

    More formal and typically implies larger-scale theft from an institution over time

  • pilfer

    Can apply to small items and money, not limited to financial accounts

Grammar Patterns

skim + money/cash/funds/profits + from + noun phrase

skim + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 5 (SKIM CARDS): sense 5 involves copying digital data, while sense 6 involves taking actual money. The theft is typically done in small increments to avoid detection.

Common Mistakes

He skimmed a laptop from the office.
He skimmed money from the cash register.
'skim' in the stealing sense is limited to money or recorded funds, not physical objects.
Phrasal verbs

skim off

phrasal verb

To remove something from the surface of a liquid.

The chef skimmed off the fat from the soup.

Can you skim off the foam from the boiling jam?

skim — noun

skim — adjective

Word family

  • skimmer
    nounB2
  • skimming
    nounC1
  • skimmed
    adjectiveA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/3

All four words describe quick or partial approaches to reading, but they differ in purpose and depth. 'Skim' (verb/3) means reading to get the main ideas — you look at headings, topic sentences, and key words without going into detail. 'Scan' is more targeted: you look for a specific piece of information, like a name or a number, ignoring everything else. 'Browse' is casual and unfocused — you let your eyes move through a book, website, or store without a clear goal. 'Glance through' is the quickest and least thorough; it suggests spending just a few seconds on the material. 'Dip into' implies reading only small, selected parts of a text, like a few paragraphs here and there. For example, when preparing for a meeting, you might skim the report to understand its main argument; later, you might scan the same report to find the sales figures. When relaxing, you browse a magazine, glance through the headlines, or dip into a novel you are not yet committed to.

scan ↗browse ↗glance throughdip into ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • at a glance
  • in under [time]

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'skim' comes from Middle English 'skimmen', which was borrowed from Old French 'escumer' meaning 'to remove scum'. The French word comes from 'escume' (scum, foam), which traces back to Latin 'spuma' (foam). The original meaning — removing floating material from a liquid — appeared first. Later the word extended to describe anything that passes lightly over a surface, metaphorically developing into the reading sense (skimming the surface of a text) and eventually into the modern crime senses involving credit card data and small-scale theft.