skipping - Master This Word
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skipping Word Meanings
- to move quickly by hopping
- to omit or leave out
- to pass time playfully
skipping Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
skipping Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/skɪp/
US
/skɪp/
skipping Word Etymology
skip = sk- (hopping) + ip (to leap). Origin: Old Norse → Middle English. Memory image: Imagine a child happily hopping along a path, skipping stones across a stream, embodying the joy of movement captured in the word.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
Standing at the door, I push off with a gentle bend of the knee and lift my foot. I set my pace on a new track, moving from one thought to another with a tiny shift of focus. The air feels lighter as I change tempo, keeping the moment playful instead of rushed. When I step into the next task, I realize I can skip a line or a beat, and the choice comes from a calm push and pull between concentration and freedom.
Real Context
Skip is a versatile verb that captures both movement and omission. It can describe moving quickly by hopping from one place to another, as when a child skips along the sidewalk, or it can mean omitting something entirely, like skipping a question or a chapter. It also conveys a playful sense of passing time, such as skipping stones across a lake or skipping ahead in a game. The word appears in phrasal forms like skip over, skip by, or skip ahead. Etymologically, skip comes from sk- meaning jump and ip as a verb suffix, with origins in Old Norse and Middle English. A memory image of a joyful hop helps learners recall the light, rhythmic movement inherent in the term.
Usage Reminders
- Use skip for quick physical movement or to omit something. Remember skip is informal, not for formal writing. Pair with common collocations like skip a step, skip over, skip ahead. Distinguish skip from omit and from pass. Use the memory image of a joyful hop to recall the meaning. Practice by making short, casual sentences.
Common Misconceptions
- Skip always means omit; it can also mean move quickly.
- Skip and pass are interchangeable in all contexts.
- Skip should be used in formal writing.
- Skip only refers to time, not physical movement.
- Skip cannot be used with nouns or objects.
Thinking Differences
Skip in English often signals a casual choice or a practical shortcut. Learners sometimes confuse skip with omit or pass, especially in formal writing where skip sounds too informal. Focus on common collocations like skip a step, skip over, and skip ahead, and consider whether you want to move quickly, bypass content, or casually pass time.
Learning Tips
- Learn core collocations: skip a step, skip over, skip ahead
- Differentiate skip from omit and from pass
- Use skip in casual conversations first
- Note how context changes meaning
- Create memory image of a joyful hop
- Record yourself using short sentences
Related Listening
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