To skip means to move forward with light, bouncing steps, lifting one foot and then the other in a cheerful, hopping rhythm. Young children often skip naturally when they're happy or excited, and it's faster than walking but more playful than running.

The word also means to pass over something or leave it out. You might skip a chapter in a book if it seems boring, or skip lunch if you're not hungry. A student who skips class misses it on purpose. When a stone skips across water, it bounces off the surface multiple times before sinking.

As a noun, a skip can also mean a large container, like a dumpster, used on construction sites for collecting trash and debris.

The phrase “skip town” means to leave quickly and secretly, often to avoid trouble. If someone skips out on paying a restaurant bill, they leave without paying what they owe.

Notice how the word often suggests something light or missing: whether it's a bouncy step, a left-out part, or a quick departure. When you skip rope, you jump over a rope as it swings under your feet, a game that combines the bouncing movement with perfect timing.