skip

¹

[ skip ]

verb (used without object)

, skipped, skip·ping.

1. to move in a light, springy manner by bounding forward with alternate hops on each foot.

   Synonyms: hop, caper

2. to pass from one point, thing, subject, etc., to another, disregarding or omitting what intervenes:

   He skipped through the book quickly.

   Synonyms: skim

3. to go away hastily and secretly; flee without notice.
4. Education. to be advanced two or more classes or grades at once.
5. to ricochet or bounce along a surface:

   The stone skipped over the lake.

verb (used with object)

, skipped, skip·ping.

1. to jump lightly over:

   The horse skipped the fence.

2. to pass over without reading, noting, acting, etc.:

   He skipped the bad parts.

3. to miss or omit (one of a repeated series of rhythmic actions):

   My heart skipped a beat.

4. to be absent from; avoid attendance at:

   to skip a school class.

5. to send (a missile) ricocheting along a surface.
6. Informal. to leave hastily and secretly or to flee from (a place):

   They skipped town.

noun

1. a skipping movement; a light jump or bounce.

   Synonyms: hop, caper, spring, leap

2. a gait marked by such jumps.
3. a passing from one point or thing to another, with disregard of what intervenes:

   a quick skip through Europe.

4. Music. a melodic interval greater than a second.
5. a natural depression below the surface of a planed board.
6. Informal. a person who has absconded in order to avoid paying debts or meeting other financial responsibilities.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to flee or abandon; desert:

   He skipped out on his wife and two children.

skip

²

[ skip ]

noun

1. the captain of a curling or bowling team.
2. Informal. skipper ¹( def 1 ).

verb (used with object)

, skipped, skip·ping.

1. to serve as skip of (a curling or bowling team).
2. Informal. skipper ¹( def 3 ).

skip

³

[ skip ]

noun

1. Mining. a metal box for carrying ore, hauled vertically or on an incline.
2. skip car.

skip

¹

/ skɪp /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by over, along, into, etc to spring or move lightly, esp to move by hopping from one foot to the other
2. intr to jump over a skipping-rope
3. to cause (a stone, etc) to bounce or skim over a surface or (of a stone) to move in this way
4. to omit (intervening matter), as in passing from one part or subject to another

   he skipped a chapter of the book

5. informal.
   intrfoll bythrough to read or deal with quickly or superficially

   he skipped through the accounts before dinner

6. informal.
   tr to miss deliberately

   to skip school

7. informal.
   tr to leave (a place) in haste or secrecy

   to skip town

noun

1. a skipping movement or gait
2. the act of passing over or omitting
3. music another word for leap
4. skip it! informal.
   it doesn't matter!

skip

²

/ skɪp /

noun

1. a college servant, esp of Trinity College, Dublin

skip

³

/ skɪp /

noun

1. a large open container for transporting building materials, etc
2. a cage used as a lift in mines, etc

skip

⁴

/ skɪp /

noun

1. informal.
   short for skipper 1

noun

1. the captain of a curling or bowls team

Other Words From

• skipping·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of skip¹

C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse skopa to take a run, obsolete Swedish skuppa to skip

Origin of skip²

C17: probably shortened from archaic skip-kennel a footman or lackey (from skip ¹+ kennel ²)

Origin of skip³

C19: variant of skep

Idioms and Phrases

• heart misses (skips) a beat
• hop, skip, and a jump

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

The family of Halyna Hutchins, the late "Rust" cinematographer, have skipped the premiere of "Rust" at the Camerimage Festival in Poland.

From Salon

"He replied he was on the Russian convoys during World War Two so was well-used to it. When we docked, he skipped off - while his wife had to be helped off."

From BBC

Agencies that skipped paying employment taxes could underbid the competition, said Mr. Perez, who offered to name firms that were “underpricing and skimming.”

From New York Times

The April 2026 start for the policy means they may not have time to make use of existing rules to skip inheritance tax by passing on an asset seven years before death.

From BBC

But Trump recently said the Senate "must agree" to recess appointments - a process that skips Senate vetting and allows quick installation of a nominee.

From BBC

Related Words

• bound
• carom
• dance
• fly
• glance
• hop
• leap
• ricochet
• scamper
• scoot
• skim
• skitter