# flip through

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flip-through
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to look quickly at the pages of a book, magazine, or document without reading everything.

For teachers: to turn pages rapidly in order to scan for specific information or to get a general impression of the content; typically implies a lack of deep engagement with the text.

## Examples

- I often flip through magazines while waiting for the dentist.
- He spent the afternoon flipping through old photo albums to find a picture of his grandfather.
- While flipping through the dense legal document, the lawyer noticed a small clause that changed the entire nature of the contract.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I flipped the book through." but "I flipped through the book." — when used to mean scanning pages, this phrasal verb is inseparable and the object must follow the particle.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a noun representing a physical or digital collection of pages.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'read' (intensive) and 'skim' (purposeful scanning); 'flip through' emphasizes the physical action of turning pages.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.