What does skimming mean?
Skimming means looking at or moving over something in a quick, light, and largely superficial way. A reader who is skimming an article may understand its general argument without noticing every detail, argument, or statistic. The word can also describe moving lightly across a surface or removing a thin layer from a liquid, as in skimming cream from milk. Its figurative use commonly suggests that someone is searching for useful information while passing over less important material, but it can carry a mildly critical implication when the person is expected to understand the subject thoroughly. Because skimming combines speed with shallowness, it is useful for describing both efficient orientation and insufficient attention to detail, depending on the context.
To read or examine something quickly and lightly, taking in only the main points.
"I skimmed the report while waiting for the train."
Often implies that the material is being read selectively rather than studied in depth.
To move lightly or quickly over a surface or through a medium.
"The bird skimmed low across the lake."
In this sense, the movement is smooth and rapid, with little contact or effort.
To remove a thin layer from the surface of a liquid.
"Skim the foam from the top of the jam."
Common in culinary contexts, especially with fat, foam, or impurities on the surface.
The act of reading or examining something quickly and lightly, usually without full attention to every detail.
"A quick skimming of the headlines gave her a rough sense of the news."
The noun is less common than the verb, and the gerund form is often used in phrases such as 'skimming and scanning.'
Rarely used; 'skimmings' most often refers to material skimmed from the surface of a liquid.
"The skimmings were discarded before the stock was used."
Skimming is the art of getting the gist without getting submerged: the modern counterpart of lightly skimming a liquid.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skimming come from?
The word comes from the Middle English verb 'skym,' meaning to move lightly over or along a surface. Its modern spelling, 'skim,' developed with the loss of the earlier consonant cluster. The related noun 'skimmer' names both a person or tool that skims and a bird that flies low over water; 'skimpy' also belongs to the same word family.
Related word forms
How skimming is actually used
The word often implies a deliberately shallow or incomplete approach, especially when used with books, articles, topics, or reports. In the liquid-related sense, it is usually transitive: 'skim the fat from the soup.'
Easily confused with skimming
Skimming means moving lightly across or quickly through something, whereas swimming refers to moving through water using the body.