skimming: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal; technical in financial crime contexts.
Quick answer
What does “skimming” mean?
The act of moving quickly and lightly over a surface, or reading quickly to get the main idea without reading every detail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of moving quickly and lightly over a surface, or reading quickly to get the main idea without reading every detail.
It can also refer to the illegal practice of stealing card or identity data (as from ATMs), or removing a surface layer (like cream from milk).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all meanings identically. Spelling of related verb 'skimmed', 'skimming' is the same.
Connotations
Identical. Slightly negative in financial/security contexts, neutral-positive as a reading technique.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “skimming” in a Sentence
skim something (off/from something)skim through somethingskim over somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skimming” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was skimming through the report before the meeting.
- Police warned of devices skimming card details at cashpoints.
American English
- She skimmed the article during her commute.
- Thieves were skimming credit card data from the gas pump.
adverb
British English
- He read it skimmingly, missing crucial details.
American English
- She looked over the document skimmingly, just to get the gist.
adjective
British English
- Use a skimming reading technique for the first pass.
- A skimming device was found attached to the ATM.
American English
- The skimming operation was highly sophisticated.
- She used a skimming strategy to preview the textbook chapters.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the fraudulent theft of payment card data, e.g., 'The bank reported a skimming operation at the petrol station.'
Academic
A recognised reading strategy for previewing texts, e.g., 'Use skimming to identify the paper's main argument.'
Everyday
Common for reading quickly or the physical act, e.g., 'I was just skimming the news headlines.' or 'The kids were skimming stones on the pond.'
Technical
In cybersecurity and law enforcement, denotes a specific type of electronic or physical fraud involving data capture devices.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skimming”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “skimming”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skimming”
- Using 'skimming' to mean 'skipping' entirely (skimming implies some contact/understanding).
- Confusing 'skimming' (for gist) with 'scanning' (for specific details).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Skimming is reading quickly for the main idea or gist. Scanning is looking quickly for specific facts, figures, or words.
No. It is only illegal in the context of financial fraud (e.g., credit card skimming). As a reading technique or physical action (skimming stones), it is perfectly legitimate.
Yes. 'Skimming' is the present participle or gerund of the verb 'to skim' (e.g., He is skimming). It is also commonly used as a standalone noun (e.g., Card skimming is a problem).
It is context-dependent. As a study technique, it's neutral/positive. In finance/security, it is strongly negative. For the physical action (e.g., skimming stones), it's neutral.
The act of moving quickly and lightly over a surface, or reading quickly to get the main idea without reading every detail.
Skimming is usually neutral to formal; technical in financial crime contexts. in register.
Skimming: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskɪm.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskɪm.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Skimming the surface (dealing with something superficially)”
- “Skimming off the top (taking the best part or embezzling)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a stone SKIMMING over water—touching the surface lightly and quickly, just like your eyes do when you SKIM a text.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING (but quickly/superficially). WEALTH/INFORMATION IS A FLUID (from which you can 'skim' the top layer).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'skimming' NOT typically apply?