skip
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to move in a light, springy manner by bounding forward with alternate hops on each foot.
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to pass from one point, thing, subject, etc., to another, disregarding or omitting what intervenes.
He skipped through the book quickly.
- Synonyms:
- skim
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to go away hastily and secretly; flee without notice.
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Education. to be advanced two or more classes or grades at once.
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to ricochet or bounce along a surface.
The stone skipped over the lake.
verb (used with object)
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to jump lightly over.
The horse skipped the fence.
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to pass over without reading, noting, acting, etc..
He skipped the bad parts.
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to miss or omit (one of a repeated series of rhythmic actions).
My heart skipped a beat.
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to be absent from; avoid attendance at.
to skip a school class.
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to send (a missile) ricocheting along a surface.
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Informal. to leave hastily and secretly or to flee from (a place).
They skipped town.
noun
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a skipping movement; a light jump or bounce.
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a gait marked by such jumps.
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a passing from one point or thing to another, with disregard of what intervenes.
a quick skip through Europe.
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Music. a melodic interval greater than a second.
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a natural depression below the surface of a planed board.
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Informal. a person who has absconded in order to avoid paying debts or meeting other financial responsibilities.
verb phrase
verb
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to spring or move lightly, esp to move by hopping from one foot to the other
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(intr) to jump over a skipping-rope
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to cause (a stone, etc) to bounce or skim over a surface or (of a stone) to move in this way
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to omit (intervening matter), as in passing from one part or subject to another
he skipped a chapter of the book
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informal to read or deal with quickly or superficially
he skipped through the accounts before dinner
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informal (tr) to miss deliberately
to skip school
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informal (tr) to leave (a place) in haste or secrecy
to skip town
noun
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a skipping movement or gait
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the act of passing over or omitting
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music another word for leap
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informal it doesn't matter!
noun
noun
noun
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a large open container for transporting building materials, etc
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a cage used as a lift in mines, etc
noun
Synonym Usage
Skip, bound refer to an elastic, springing movement. To skip is to give a series of light, quick hops alternating the feet: to skip about. Bound suggests a series of long, rather vigorous leaps; it is also applied to a springing or leaping type of walking or running rapidly and actively: A dog came bounding up to meet him.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of skip1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb skippen, perhaps from Old Norse skopa “to take a run” (compare Icelandic skoppa “to spin like a top, hop,” Swedish dialect skopa “to skip”); the noun is derivative of the verb
Origin of skip2
First recorded in 1820–30; short for skipper 1
Origin of skip3
First recorded in 1805–15; alteration of skep
Explanation
When you skip, you do a little hop from foot to foot as you move along. It's pretty common to see little kids skip down the sidewalk or across the playground. While a happy, running hop is one kind of skip, you can also use this verb to mean "pass up" or "pass over." You might arrive late to the movies and skip the trailers at the beginning, or skip the bread basket at a restaurant so you have room for dessert later. The earliest meaning of skip, from the 1300's, is "to spring lightly," from the Old Norse root word skopa.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A new project can always use a helping hand — some popular IP, a respected brand name — to skip to the front of the line and cross the velvet rope to an audience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
As tempting as it is, you might want to skip letting artificial intelligence write your resume.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
But many Chinese tourists nowadays skip the bamboo-raft river cruise, which costs about $30 for two people, according to Wu Fandong, a 45-year-old raftsman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
And no matter what you order, don’t skip the croissants — they’re delectable, as they should be.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
This is a very aside aside, something maybe only I am wondering about, so you are welcome to skip ahead if you want.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
A growing number of leaders have skipped this year's forum and sent lower-ranked ministers in their place.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
Two of last year’s biggest Oscar contenders, “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another,” also skipped fall festival launches, raising questions about how essential such festivals — Telluride among them — remain to an awards campaign.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
The panel also found Edwards skipped votes to spend time with one staffer, and in one instance had roughly 30 types of ice cream delivered to a staffer’s home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
A different voter, Bennett Bracell of Charleston, had skipped a day of high school to drive up two hours for the rally.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
Winnie didn't hear the second part of her sentence because she'd already skipped over to Brigit, cooing over Feste, taking Brigit's hand to drag her off to play.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Patients, of course, who will order these cheaper, unproven products via an 800-number or the internet, skipping appointments with real doctors who can provide accurate diagnoses and proven treatments.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
While the ratings Emmy program ticked up in the previous two years, the telecast remains challenged by the overall trend of viewers skipping award show telecasts in favor of clips on social media.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Nomura analyst Naka Matsuzawa had expected the yen to gain further this week as the Fed leans toward skipping a September rate increase and the case for a BOJ hike strengthens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
"Every time we go and see a play, it's not about the boys skipping out of it going, 'I want to be the next Billy Elliot'," he says.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
“Did you ever notice,” Isa said to Jessie after watching Big Zee stride down the street with his Chihuahua skipping behind him, “that we know everyone in this neighborhood?”
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
