skip
skihp
Skip (verb) means to move along lightly with a hop in each step. Example: “My little sister likes to skip along the pavement when she is happy.”
verb
1
To move along lightly with a hop in each step.
"My little sister likes to skip along the pavement when she is happy."
"The children skipped down the path toward the playground."
"She skipped happily across the schoolyard."
2
To leave out or not do something you would normally do.
"If you're tired, you can skip the last chapter and read it tomorrow."
"He decided to skip breakfast and go straight to work."
"Don't skip the warm-up before you exercise."
3
To not attend something, especially a class or meeting.
"Several students decided to skip the Friday assembly and go to the park."
"She skipped the lecture to finish her essay."
"He got in trouble for skipping school."
4
To leave suddenly, often to avoid trouble.
"The cashier skipped the country before anyone noticed the missing money."
"Rather than face the angry customers, the owner skipped out the back door."
"The tenant skipped town owing three months' rent."
noun
1
(UK) A large open container for waste and rubble, often left outside a building site.
"A skip was parked outside the neighbour's house for a whole week."
"They hired a skip to clear out the old furniture from the garage."
"Builders filled the skip with broken bricks by the end of the day."
How to use skip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hop lightly, or to leave something out — and in British English, also a big rubbish container.
UK vs US
The rubbish-container sense ("hire a skip") is British; Americans call this a dumpster.
Common pairings
skip a meal
skip class
hire a skip
skip town
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Word forms
- Plural
- skips
- Third person singular
- skips
- Past tense
- skipped
- Archaic forms
- skippest, skippedst, skippeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My little sister likes to _____ along the pavement when she is happy.
Etymology
From Middle English skippen, of North Germanic origin — likely related to Old Norse words meaning "to leap" or "push repeatedly", the same root family as the English word "shove".
Related words
Rhymes for skip
See all rhymes for skip →Frequently asked questions
What does “skip” mean?
The word “skip” means to move along lightly with a hop in each step. In plain terms, to hop lightly, or to leave something out — and in British English, also a big rubbish container.
How do you pronounce “skip”?
“Skip” is pronounced skihp (/skɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “skip” in a sentence?
Here is “skip” used in a sentence: “The children skipped down the path toward the playground.”
What part of speech is “skip”?
Depending on how it is used, “skip” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “skip” come from?
The word “skip” comes from Middle English. From Middle English skippen, of North Germanic origin — likely related to Old Norse words meaning "to leap" or "push repeatedly", the same root family as the English word "shove".
Is “skip” a common word?
“Skip” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “skip” have?
“Skip” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move along lightly with a hop in each step.
What is the difference between 'skip' and 'jump'?
To 'skip' is to move along lightly with a hop in each step, a repeated, bouncing motion used to travel forward. To 'jump' is a single push off the ground, usually up or over something. Skipping is continuous and light, while jumping is one discrete leap.
What is the difference between 'skip' and 'miss'?
To 'skip' something is to choose to leave it out or not do something you would normally do, as in 'skip breakfast.' To 'miss' something usually means you failed to catch or attend it, often unintentionally, as in 'miss the bus.' Skipping is deliberate, while missing often is not.
Does 'skip' mean to leave something out on purpose?
In one common sense, yes. 'Skip' can mean to deliberately leave out or not do something you would normally do, such as skipping a meal or a chapter. This differs from its literal sense of moving with a light hop in each step.
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