skimmed; skimming
1
a
: to clear (a liquid) of scum or floating substance
skim boiling syrup
b
: to remove (a film, a layer of scum, etc.) from the surface of a liquid
c
: to remove cream from by skimming
d
: to remove the best or most easily obtainable contents from
2
: to read, study, or examine superficially and rapidly
especially
: to glance through (something, such as a book) for the chief ideas or the plot
3
: to throw in a gliding path
especially
: to throw so as to ricochet along the surface of water
4
: to cover with or as if with a film, scum, or coat
5
: to pass swiftly or lightly over
6
a
: to remove or conceal (money, such as a portion of casino profits) to avoid payment of taxes
b
: embezzle
skimming money from employee pension plans
1
a
: to pass lightly or hastily : glide or skip along, above, or near a surface
b
: to give a cursory glance, consideration, or reading
2
: to become coated with a thin layer of film or scum
3
: to put on a finishing coat of plaster
4
: to embezzle money
Synonyms
Examples of skim in a Sentence
Verb
He skimmed the leaves from the pool.
The cream is skimmed from the milk.
The milk is skimmed before it is bottled.
She only skimmed the reading assignment.
She only skimmed through the reading assignment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Karen Norian, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024
The two-part title story tells of a husband and wife who fled Mexico after the husband made a fortune by skimming from his job in the public works department.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 10 Nov. 2024
Caroline Tien, SELF, 4 Oct. 2024
Available on The Week Bookshop Goodnight Moon Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, 1947
On a skim, this postwar children’s picture book is a mimsy bedtime story about a bunny.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for skim 
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.
Verb
Great shopping, luxury hotels, and proximity to beaches and parks only add to Savannah’s allure — and that’s barely skimming the surface of this quintessential southern city.
—Karen Norian, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024
The two-part title story tells of a husband and wife who fled Mexico after the husband made a fortune by skimming from his job in the public works department.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
Based on a quick skim of the comments section, lots of folks seemed similarly concerned about the potential GI impact.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 4 Oct. 2024
Available on The Week Bookshop Goodnight Moon Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, 1947
On a skim, this postwar children’s picture book is a mimsy bedtime story about a bunny.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for skim
Dictionary Entries Near skim
Cite this Entry
“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skim. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
skim
1 of 3 verb
skimmed; skimming
1
a
: to clear a liquid of scum or floating substance : remove (as film or scum) from the surface of a liquid
b
: to remove cream from by skimming
2
: to glance through (as a book) for the chief ideas or the plot
3
: to throw so as to bounce along the surface of water
4
: to pass swiftly or lightly over : glide or skip along, above, or near a surface
skim
2 of 3 noun1
: a thin layer, coating, or film
2
: the act of skimming
3
: something skimmed
especially
: skim milk
skim
3 of 3 adjective
: having the cream removed by skimming
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share