1
2
as in to flow
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 to brush
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skim
Minneapolis has two harvesting machines that can skim lakes to remove algae.
—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Workers were seen skimming the surface of the pool in the end nearest the World War II Memorial.
—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
Instead of rising in the east and setting in the west, the sun appears to skim around the horizon in a shallow circle, dipping low but never disappearing.
—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
According to police, skimming devices are often placed on top of the card reader and can make the reader look normal but bulky.
—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for skim
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Workers were seen skimming the surface of the pool in the end nearest the World War II Memorial.
—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
Instead of rising in the east and setting in the west, the sun appears to skim around the horizon in a shallow circle, dipping low but never disappearing.
—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
According to police, skimming devices are often placed on top of the card reader and can make the reader look normal but bulky.
—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for skim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skim
Verb
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One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.
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Pele controls the ball in the penalty area with his thigh, flips it over the head of the defender and smashes it past a helpless Kalle Svensson.
Verb
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Rainfall — as little as a tenth of an inch, according to the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, or ALCOSAN — can cause an overflow of stormwater and raw sewage to flow into the rivers.
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Through the morning, a river of mourners dressed in black flowed from the Grand Mosalla.
Verb
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Lightly brush the ribs with bulgogi glaze during the final hour if desired.
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The aisles were so choked that blooms and branches brushed against us, the air heady with the scent of lilies, roses, eucalyptus, and sweet decay.
Verb
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The 19-year-old dressed in a light gray suit with a pastel orange neck tie anxiously bounced his legs after Silver announced to the crowd that the Washington Wizards had five minutes to make the first selection.
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The pastel hallways outside of the locker areas bounce light off one another, all streaming in from the large surrounding windows.
Verb
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More recently, Amal Clooney strolled through the South of France hand-in-hand with husband George in a black micro-mini with shorts peeking out underneath.
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Pull out your wallet and shop our favorite high-end finds, like a stylish outdoor love seat to relax in the garden as the sun peeks from behind the clouds.
Verb
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Clear sunscreen sticks glide across the skin without leaving the chalky white cast that mineral formulas can create, and their solid texture means less dripping or rubbing than a lotion.
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The kit allows the bomb to glide 60 to 80 kilometers following the release from aircraft such as the Su-34, Su-35, and Su-30.
Verb
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After kissing and dancing on Caleb McDaniel, Bryce Dettloff and Zach Georgiou, her level of effort seemingly dropped off for the rest of the male cast.
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Eventually, Ferrel Onder went through with the shoot, with the male model kissing her on the neck instead of on the mouth in the final product.
Verb
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Although Kel’s parents skip the opening night of his play, still in disapproval of his acting career, three of his students attend, leaving him touched.
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Open a window, replace the HVAC filter and skip the haul of seasonal sprays.
Cite this Entry
“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skim. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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