Skill

/skɪl/ · noun

Meaning

A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate..

Definitions by Sense

1. A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
2. (obsolete) Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause.
3. (obsolete) Knowledge; understanding.
4. (obsolete) Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address.
5. (UK, slang) Great, excellent.
6. (transitive) To set apart; separate.
7. (transitive, chiefly dialectal) To discern; have knowledge or understanding; to know how (to).
8. (transitive, dialectal, Scotland, Northern England, rare) To know; to understand.

Example Sentences

Where did you pick up that skill?

With great skill, she navigated through the tricky passage.

Doing that coaching course not only taught me useful skills on the field, but also some important life skills.

I have heard the French-man hath good skill in his rapier.

Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

The skill was not in creating a grid full of words, but in producing clues cryptic enough to baffle the puzzler, yet constructed so honestly that they could be solved by any intelligent person who knew the conventions.

Him so I sought, and so at last I fownd Where him that witch had thralled to her will, In chaines of lust and lewde desyres ybownd And so transformed from his former skill, That me he knew not, nether his owne ill;

Methinks I should know you, and know this man; Yet I am doubtful; for I am mainly ignorant What place this is; and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments; nor I know not Where I did lodge last night. […]

Synonyms for skill

Antonyms for skill

Related Words

Word Forms

• skills
• skil
• skiller
• skillest
• skilling
• skilled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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