Skimming: meaning, definitions and examples

Skimming is used when quickly reading through text to get the main idea without going into details. This is often done with books, articles, or any lengthy text.

• She was skimming through the article to get the gist of it before the meeting.
• I just skimmed the book to get a sense of the plot.

Scan is used when looking over something quickly to identify specific information. This is often more focused than skimming but still quick.

• He scanned the document for any mentions of his name.
• She scanned the room to find her friend.

Browse is used when looking through things in a casual or leisurely way. This can apply to books, websites, or stores.

• He browsed the internet for information on his next travel destination.
• She spent the afternoon browsing through the shops.

Glance is used when taking a quick look at something, often briefly and without much focus. It suggests a fleeting look.

• He glanced at his watch and realized he was late.
• She glanced at the newspaper headlines while having breakfast.

Used when referring to quickly looking over or removing the surface layer of something.

• She was skimming through the book to find the important sections
• The chef was skimming the fat off the soup

Used when taking something away from a specific place or eliminating it entirely.

• Please remove your shoes before entering the house
• They had to remove the old files to make space

Used when pulling out specific information or materials from a larger source.

• He had to extract key details from the research paper
• The dentist will extract the tooth if it’s causing pain

Used when separating desired elements from a mixture or removing unwanted parts, often involving a process of selection.

• We need to filter out spam emails from our inbox
• The water is filtered to remove impurities