skill
1 Americannoun
-
skills
plural
-
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.
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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:
“If I move my knight here, my opponent will move their rook here, and then I’ll have to…” This is an invaluable skill for life.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
“I feel very comfortable that we’ve gotten a group with a lot of experience, diverse skill sets and a common commitment,” Clayton said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
And in states like Tennessee, which does not carry out many lethal injection executions, members of the execution team do not have the chance to perfect their skill by using it a lot.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
“Given the body of work, what he’s done, the unique skill set,” Roberts said, “could be huge for us — will be huge for us.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
In fact, improvisation is an advanced and highly sophisticated skill in which the musician must draw upon all of their previously practiced knowledge and techniques in order to compose “in the moment.”
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
At the same time, some academics are emphasizing the need for students to hone AI skills to improve efficiency, deepen expertise, and meet the demands of a modern workforce.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
The teacher says the lessons will be tailored to "different ages and stages" with younger pupils needing to be focused on foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills before moving on to practical uses of AI.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
“Will I be affected? Will I be able to find another job as good as this one? Are my skills transferable? Will I have to take a step down?” one wrote on LinkedIn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Previous research has found that when the brain appears older than expected, that pattern can be associated with poorer memory, weaker thinking skills and changes in mood.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026
They might not get a chance to show off their sword-fighting skills, but the Hardy Boys did have one other special talent—solving mysteries.
From "Hopping Mad (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #4)" by Franklin W. Dixon
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.
