Skip

/skɪp/

verbBeginner📊CommonGeneral
4 meanings3 idioms/phrases4 questions

Definitions

4 meanings
1

To move with a light, hopping step.

/skɪp/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To move lightly by hopping from one foot to the other.

The children skipped down the street, eager to get to the playground.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're so happy you can't walk normally, so you hop from foot to foot! That's skipping. Like when you’re so excited for ice cream you skip home.

👶 For kids: To move like you're hopping and jumping at the same time, like a happy bunny!

More Examples

2

She skipped with joy after receiving the good news.

How It's Used

Playtime

"Children often skip rope during recess."

Physical Activity

"She was skipping down the path."

2

To leave out or omit something.

/skɪp/

verbneutralBeginner
Literature

To omit or leave out something.

I will skip the first chapter of the book.

💡 Simply: To not do something or not read something. Like when you skip a chapter in a book because it’s boring. Or skip a stone across water—it avoids sinking!

👶 For kids: To not do something or to jump over something.

More Examples

2

The computer skipped the error and continued with the next process.

3

We can skip the formalities and get straight to business.

How It's Used

Reading

"Please skip the introduction if you are already familiar with the topic."

Programming

"The program will skip over invalid data entries."

Tip:Imagine 'skipping' a stone – it leaves out the water.
3

A light, hopping step or movement.

/skɪp/

nounpositivemedium
General

A light, hopping movement.

Her step had a definite skip as she thought about her upcoming vacation.

💡 Simply: It’s the happy hop, like a joyful bounce in your step, like the skipping you do when you're happy.

👶 For kids: The way you hop and jump at the same time.

More Examples

2

The child ran towards the playground with a skip.

How It's Used

Physical Activity

"She moved with a skip in her step, enjoying the sunny weather."

Tip:Think of how you might move when you're excited.
4

A large, open-topped container used for disposing of waste.

/skɪp/

nounneutralmedium
General

A container for removing waste.

The construction crew filled the skip with rubble.

💡 Simply: It's a big metal box that's used to throw away big stuff you don't want anymore. Like a huge trash can, but for things that are too big for your regular bin.

👶 For kids: A big box for throwing away trash and junk.

More Examples

2

The skip was overflowing with garden waste.

How It's Used

Waste Management

"The construction site had a large skip for debris."

Tip:Think of a giant trash can that gets loaded onto a truck.

Idioms & expressions

skip a beat

To suddenly become excited or nervous; to hesitate or stop momentarily.

"My heart skipped a beat when I saw her."

skip town

To leave a place quickly, often to avoid problems or responsibilities.

"He skipped town after the bank robbery."

skip over

To avoid dealing with something, or to pass over it without giving it any attention.

"The editor decided to skip over the controversial topic in the article."

From Middle English *skippen*, from Old Norse *skopa* ('to jump, leap').

The word 'skip' has been used since the 14th century, initially referring to a leaping or jumping motion.

Memory tip

Think of a joyful bunny hopping across a field.

Word Origin

LanguageOld Norse
Original meaning

"to jump, leap"

skip downskip overskip a beatskip ropeskip town

Common misspellings

skipeskyp

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written