to thumb
8
5.8
- verb
- /θʌm/
- Seated apart from the others at a small table, he was thumbing through a thick sheaf of papers.
- well-thumbed
Examples
-
Ernie grabbed a book off the shelf, thumbed through the pages, and adjusted his glasses.
Fiction book (1999) -
Andy notices an attractive young blonde sitting alone, thumbing through a "Let's Go" guide.
Fiction book (1997) -
"Look at this for a second," she says now, thumbing through her volume.
Fiction book (1997) -
I found him sitting at a table in the rear, thumbing through a copy of Soul on Ice.
Fiction book (1990) -
Too many thoughts, but I thumbed through the pages.
-
I wondered if she would thumb through my French phrase book, which was on my bedside table.
Fiction book (1990) -
Julie could almost see her mouthing instructions at her secretary, thumbing through a stack of messages.
Fiction book (1994) -
"Annabelle peered over his shoulder as the Earl quickly thumbed through each offensive policy paper.
Fiction book (1990) -
Pauline shakes her head and looks on as John continues to thumb awkwardly through the book, his shivers increasing.
Fiction book (1994) -
As I sat in the library, I thumbed through the pages of an old book filled with fascinating stories.
Synonyms
547
1.8
To turn or toss something quickly with a light hand movement
37
2.7
Read something quickly without looking at details
9
6.5
To turn pages quickly without reading everything
7
2.7
To look through a book or magazine quickly
3
2.8
To look quickly through the pages of a book or magazine
2
6.5
To turn pages quickly or move thin things with a light quick motion
Antonyms
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
- Archaic
1
8.2
To get a free ride from a passing car by standing by the road and showing your thumb
Compounds
- Informal
34
3.8
A simple practical way to do or decide things from experience that is not exact
A small freshwater fish with a broad flat head that lives among stones in fast streams
- Baby Talk
A small nursery rhyme character a child shows on their thumb to teach finger names
- Baby Talk
A simple game for children using the thumb and four fingers to help them move well
How Quickly
Surface Forms
Etymology
To thumb through pages comes from using your thumb to flip pages quickly, so to 'thumb through' a book means to turn pages fast and look only a little.