skill
1 Americannoun
-
the ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to do something well.
Carpentry was one of his many skills.
- Synonyms:
- facility, proficiency
- Antonyms:
- inability
-
competent excellence in performance; expertness; dexterity.
The dancers performed with skill.
- Synonyms:
- cleverness, deftness
-
a craft, trade, or job requiring manual dexterity or special training in which a person has competence and experience.
the skill of cabinetmaking.
-
Obsolete. understanding; discernment.
-
Obsolete. reason; cause.
verb (used without object)
-
to matter.
-
to help; avail.
noun
-
special ability in a task, sport, etc, esp ability acquired by training
-
something, esp a trade or technique, requiring special training or manual proficiency
-
obsolete understanding
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of skill1
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old Norse skil “distinction, difference”; cognate with Dutch geschil “difference, quarrel”; see skill 2 ( def. )
Origin of skill2
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English skilien, from Old Norse skilja “to distinguish, divide,” akin to skil ( see skill 1 ( def. )), Old English scylian “to separate,” Gothic skilja “butcher,” Lithuanian skélti “to split”
Explanation
If you have an ability that required practice, training, or experience, you have a skill. His welding skill allowed him to create wonderful pieces of art out of metal plumbing pipes. He called his best work "Peace Pipes." Chess is a game of skill, but Old Maid is a game of luck. The noun skill comes from an Old Norse word, skil, which means distinction. His swimming skills left a lot to be desired: he flailed around in the pool, churning up water like an egg beater. It kept him from drowning, but it didn't look pretty. You're supposed to learn basic math and reading skills in elementary school.
Vocabulary lists containing skill
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Carney’s unique tenor ranges from Jeff Buckley to Freddie Mercury; his rock background and skill with the guitar is required for Orpheus’ lyre-playing and lends to the folk roots of Mitchell’s songs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Regulations dating to 1975 permit separate teams by sex “where selection for such teams is based upon competitive skill or the activity involved is a contact sport.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
The Welsh government said the most effective means of fighting wildfires "was at ground level, and that is exactly what our firefighters are doing with great skill and dedication".
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Is there a financial skill you think you should have developed by now, but are too embarrassed to ask about?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
“How well you draw!” he said, with a genuine surprise and pleasure at her skill, adding, with a half-laugh, “Yes, that’s me.”
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
“Ride or Die,” for all its fanciful twists, ultimately has more realistic counsel for all the WOACAs watching: Bank on yourself and your extensively earned skills.
From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026
The government has sought to respond to public anger over migration by promoting a "locals first" approach, while acknowledging that some industries rely on foreign skills and labour.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
The firm said it all went down during a test of its tech's hacking skills.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The others are critical thinking, agility, business acumen, people skills and professional demeanor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
By using the wealth of skills and expertise gathered at the different volcano observatories, teams of experts work together to keep watch and send warning when a dormant volcano is about to become active.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
