skipping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1neutral, informal
Quick answer
What does “skipping” mean?
the action of moving along lightly with hops or jumps, often with one foot raised.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the action of moving along lightly with hops or jumps, often with one foot raised; also omitting or passing over something.
The activity of using a skipping rope; or, in a broader sense, moving quickly and lightly from one point, topic, or item to another, or deliberately omitting parts of a sequence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'skipping' as a playground activity with a rope is strongly associated with the noun 'skipping rope'. In the US, the equipment is more commonly called a 'jump rope' and the activity 'jump roping'.
Connotations
UK: Strong childhood/playground connotations. US: Often associated with fitness or boxing training.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English for the rope activity. The 'omitting' sense is equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “skipping” in a Sentence
skip [over] somethingskip to somethingskip through somethingskip somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skipping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She was skipping in the playground with her friends.
- I think I'll skip the meeting and finish the report instead.
American English
- He skipped the rock across the pond.
- You can skip the introductory chapter if you're familiar with the basics.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used) She ran skippingly to the door.
American English
- (Rarely used) The music played skippingly due to a scratch.
adjective
British English
- The skipping children filled the yard with noise.
- A skipping rhythm kept the rowers in time.
American English
- Her skipping heartbeat betrayed her nervousness.
- The software has a skipping playback issue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"We're skipping the usual approval process for this urgent client request."
Academic
"The study employed a systematic sampling method, skipping every fifth entry."
Everyday
"The children were skipping down the path after school."
Technical
"The algorithm works by skipping null values in the dataset."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skipping”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “skipping”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skipping”
- Using 'jumping' for the specific rope activity (UK).
- Using 'skipping' as a noun for the rope itself (e.g., 'She brought her skipping').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a noun, it refers to the activity (e.g., 'She loves skipping'). As a verb, it is the present participle/gerund of 'skip' (e.g., 'She is skipping').
Skipping is a specific, light, stepping-and-hopping gait, often done for play. Jumping is a more general action of propelling oneself off the ground.
Yes, informally. 'Skipping class' or 'skipping work' means being absent without permission.
It's a lexical difference. 'Skipping rope' and the verb 'skip' for the activity are traditional in the UK. 'Jump rope' (noun) and 'jump roping' (verb) are the dominant terms in the US.
the action of moving along lightly with hops or jumps, often with one foot raised.
Skipping is usually neutral, informal in register.
Skipping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskɪp.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskɪp.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “skipping a beat”
- “with a skip and a jump”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a child SKIPPING with a rope, choosing to SKIP over a crack in the pavement.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS PROGRESS (skipping along a path); EXCLUSION IS AVOIDANCE (skipping a chapter).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'skipping' most likely to refer to a fitness activity?