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.
North America’s Building Trades Unions have embraced responsible AI infrastructure because they recognize it as a generational opportunity to create thousands of skilled construction jobs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
The study included Medicare claims and electronic health records from patients admitted to more than 5,500 skilled nursing facilities nationwide between 2017 and 2022.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026
The Scottish Mountaineering Club dates back to 1889 and its members have included many of Scotland's most skilled climbers.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Intertitle cards bridged some comprehension gaps, but skilled directors used them sparingly.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026
My father was allowed to live only because he is a skilled stone carver.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
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.
