Word
skip
Phoneticsskip
US/ˈskɪp/
UK/skˈɪp/
Definitions
01to move by hopping
A2 · Elementary
v. to move forward by jumping lightly from one foot to the other.
v. to move with a light, bouncing step, typically by hopping on alternate feet.
“The children began to skip down the path because they were so excited.”
“The young lambs would skip across the meadow in the early morning, displaying a natural agility that delighted the onlookers.”
02to omit or miss
B1 · Intermediate
v. to not do something that you usually do, or to jump over a part of something.
v. to intentionally omit a step in a sequence or fail to attend a scheduled event.
“I was so busy that I had to skip lunch today.”
“Advanced students may choose to skip the introductory chapter and proceed directly to the more technical analysis in chapter two.”
03to jump rope
A2 · Elementary Sports British English
v. to jump over a rope that you or others are turning.
v. to engage in the exercise or game of jumping over a revolving rope.
“She can skip for ten minutes without stopping to rest.”
“Boxers often skip as part of their conditioning routine to improve their footwork and cardiovascular endurance.”
Synonyms
04to bounce off a surface
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to throw something so it bounces off the surface of water or ground.
v. to cause an object to skim or ricochet across a surface.
“We tried to skip flat stones across the calm surface of the lake.”
“The pilot managed to skip the small aircraft across the water's surface before it finally came to a halt near the shore.”
05to leave suddenly
C1 · Advanced Informal
v. to leave a place quickly and secretly, often to avoid trouble.
v. to depart a location suddenly and covertly, typically to evade a debt or legal obligation.
“He decided to skip town before the police could find him.”
“The tenant skipped out on his rent, leaving the apartment empty and the landlord with no way to contact him.”
06waste container
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
n. a very large metal box used for holding big amounts of rubbish, usually during building work.
n. a large open-topped container for bulky waste, designed to be lifted onto a specialized truck.
“We hired a skip to get rid of all the old furniture from the attic.”
“The driveway was blocked by a massive yellow skip filled with bricks and plaster from the kitchen renovation.”
Synonyms
07a captain
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Sports Informal
n. a short name for a captain of a ship or a sports team.
n. an informal abbreviation for 'skipper', denoting the master of a vessel or the captain of a team.
“The skip told the crew to prepare for the incoming storm.”
“In the final end of the match, the skip made a brilliant tactical call that secured the victory for the curling team.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “skip” in context.
Verb
01. deliberately skip the meeting
“She chose to deliberately skip the meeting because she felt her presence wouldn't change the outcome.”
adv + verb + noun
02. skip breakfast to save time
“He often skips breakfast to save time in the morning, though he knows it is not a healthy habit.”
verb + noun + infinitive
03. skip joyfully down the path
“The children were seen skipping joyfully down the path toward the playground.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
04. skip the introductory chapter
“Since I was already familiar with the basics, I decided to skip the introductory chapter and move to the advanced section.”
verb + adj + noun
Adverb
05. skip ahead to the end
“If you are bored with the plot development, you can skip ahead to the end of the novel.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
06. skip lightly across the grass
“The deer skipped lightly across the grass before disappearing into the dense forest.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
Usage
When meaning 'to omit', the verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Pitfall
I skipped to go to the meeting
I skipped the meeting
When skip means to miss an event, it is transitive and takes the noun directly without a preposition or infinitive.
Real-World Examples
“As far back as April 2026, people in India were having trouble finding and affording gas with which to cook, forcing them to skip meals .” “A student who skips an assignment still collects 50 points, so the policy hands out credit for work that doesn’t exist.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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