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View synonyms for skill

skill

1

[ skil ]

noun

  1. 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

  2. competent excellence in performance; expertness; dexterity:

    The dancers performed with skill.

    Synonyms: cleverness, deftness

  3. a craft, trade, or job requiring manual dexterity or special training in which a person has competence and experience:

    the skill of cabinetmaking.

  4. Obsolete. understanding; discernment.
  5. Obsolete. reason; cause.


skill

2

[ skil ]

verb (used without object)

, Archaic.
  1. to matter.
  2. to help; avail.

skill

/ skɪl /

noun

  1. special ability in a task, sport, etc, esp ability acquired by training
  2. something, esp a trade or technique, requiring special training or manual proficiency
  3. obsolete.
    understanding


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Derived Forms

  • ˈskill-less, adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of skill1

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old Norse skil “distinction, difference”; cognate with Dutch geschil “difference, quarrel”; skill 2( def )

Origin of skill2

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English skilien, from Old Norse skilja “to distinguish, divide,” akin to skil ( skill 1( def ) ), Old English scylian “to separate,” Gothic skilja “butcher,” Lithuanian skélti “to split”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of skill1

C12: from Old Norse skil distinction; related to Middle Low German schēle, Middle Dutch geschil difference

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Example Sentences

In 2010, a study at the University of North Texas compared how students retain information literacy skills in a face-to-face class, an online class and a blended class.

They viewed the ability to sift through all this advice as a crucial skill to learn.

These bots offer increasing levels of customizability and complexity to match a young one’s skills.

Customers can use the company’s skill to order Tide products without having to pull up the Amazon app or go to the Tide website.

She also asked students to choose a skill and practice it regularly.

With all due respect to his athletic skill, Gronkowski is not high on the list of NFL players that elicit carnal thoughts.

Investigators will focus on whether the sudden emergency was so extreme that no degree of pilot skill would have helped.

As the steaks are eaten, Mount, who has some skill in these things, brings up the movie.

Conflicts and resolutions were staged with the skill of a chessplayer working out new endgame strategies.

He finishes off the task he has set himself here with considerable precision and skill.

Here convincing proof was given of Mme. Mesdag's accuracy, originality of interpretation, and her skill in the use of color.

Tobacco requires a great deal of skill and trouble in the right management of it.

The Gentleman's Magazine contains a long list of the bridges and churches which attest his reputation and skill.

The Winnebagos also manufacture pipes of the same form, but of a smaller size, in lead, with considerable skill.

I was soon surprised to find that I too had a taste for statistics and acquired some skill in their compilation.

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