skilled
Americanadjective
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having skill; trained or experienced in work that requires skill.
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showing, involving, or requiring skill, as certain work.
adjective
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possessing or demonstrating accomplishment, skill, or special training
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(prenominal) involving skill or special training
a skilled job
Synonym Usage
See skillful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of skilled
Explanation
Anyone skilled has special abilities. A skilled mechanic from the future might build a flying car. Then a skilled rapper can write a cool song about it. A skill is a well-earned talent, like being able to ride a bike, write a script, or spin a basketball on your finger. If you have skills, you're skilled! Congratulations. Being skilled in something usually requires practice. A skilled politician wins elections. A skilled hitter in baseball has a high batting average. A highly skilled job is one that requires special training. The opposite of skilled is unskilled, which would apply to someone without a particular talent.
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.
The state of Arizona supports apprenticeship programs that help get workers into skilled trades, among other initiatives.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
The risk was real, but disaster was avoided because skilled people did the work.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
It found that average earnings in the sector were 5.2% above the Scottish average at £41,000, reflective of the amount of skilled job it supports, particularly in engineering.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
The report, however, highlights the vast amount of not only capital, but also skilled workers and infrastructure still needed to reduce U.S. dependence on imports for such products.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Later I learned a truly skilled worker easily would have produced twice that number.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
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.
