Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

skelter

American  
[skel-ter] / ˈskɛl tər /

verb (used without object)

  1. to scurry.


Etymology

Origin of skelter

First recorded in 1850–55; probably extracted from helter-skelter

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.

"It was quite a helter skelter two days."

From Barron's • Nov. 22, 2025

Am’s try was the result of a crazy, helter skelter passage of play when Italy intercepted deep in its half and broke all the way downfield.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 4, 2019

“Hollywood has this nice little lagoon and with all these boats helter skelter in there, it’s just an eyesore,” said neighbor Ross Frick.

From Washington Times • May 14, 2016

Peter May, Boston Globe sportswriter......I think you should apologize for this helter skelter pointless article.

From New York Times • Jan. 15, 2016

It would be day and the park would be filled with kids, their screaming and laughter would slide along the light beams into the helter skelter world of monkey bars and swings.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "skelter" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com