# skim vs swim

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### skim
*verb · IPA /skɪm/ · frequency rank #23,397*
To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface.

### swim
*verb · IPA /swɪm/ · frequency rank #5,089*
To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skim-vs-swim