Dictionary monolingual
English

Skill

skɪl
Extremely common
800 - 900
800 - 900
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Skill -

Proficiency or ability in a particular area acquired through training or experience.

Example: She has excellent cooking skills.
Usage: formalContext: professional settings, academic discussions
Note: Often used in contexts related to work, education, or specific activities.

A specific ability or talent.

Example: His skill in playing the guitar is impressive.
Usage: formalContext: artistic or creative fields
Note: Refers to a particular talent or aptitude in a specific area.

Dexterity or proficiency in performing tasks, often with hands or tools.

Example: The carpenter demonstrated his woodworking skills.
Usage: formalContext: manual labor, craftsmanship
Note: Can refer to physical abilities or technical expertise in practical tasks.

Trickery or deceit used to achieve a goal.

Example: He used his skills to manipulate the situation.
Usage: informalContext: informal conversations, storytelling
Note: In this context, 'skill' can have a negative connotation of cunning or deception.

Skill's synonyms

ability

Ability refers to the capacity to do something or the quality of being able to do something well.
Example: She has the ability to learn new languages quickly.
Note: While skill often implies learned or acquired expertise, ability can be seen as a more innate or natural capacity.

talent

Talent is a natural aptitude or skill for a particular activity.
Example: He has a talent for playing the piano.
Note: Talent emphasizes innate abilities or gifts, whereas skill can be developed through practice and training.

expertise

Expertise refers to a high level of skill or knowledge in a particular area.
Example: Her expertise in computer programming landed her a job at a tech company.
Note: Expertise implies a deep and specialized knowledge or skill in a specific field, often gained through experience and study.

proficiency

Proficiency indicates a high degree of competence or skill in a particular task or subject.
Example: His proficiency in Spanish allowed him to work as a translator.
Note: Proficiency suggests a more advanced level of skill or ability, often indicating mastery or fluency in a specific area.

Skill expressions, common phrases

A skill set

Refers to a range of skills or abilities that a person possesses.
Example: She has a diverse skill set that includes coding, graphic design, and marketing.
Note: It emphasizes the variety and combination of skills rather than focusing on a single skill.

Master of a skill

Describes someone who has achieved a high level of proficiency in a particular skill.
Example: He is a master of the guitar, able to play complex pieces with ease.
Note: It implies a high level of expertise and mastery beyond just possessing the skill.

Skillful hands

Refers to someone's adeptness or proficiency in using their hands for a specific task.
Example: The artist's skillful hands created a beautiful sculpture out of marble.
Note: It highlights the dexterity and precision in performing manual tasks using hands.

Acquire a skill

Means to gain or develop a new ability through learning or practice.
Example: It's important to acquire new skills to stay competitive in today's job market.
Note: It emphasizes the process of learning and gaining a new skill rather than just possessing it.

Skill and drill

Refers to repetitive practice or training aimed at mastering a particular skill.
Example: The coach focused on skill and drill exercises to improve the team's performance.
Note: It emphasizes the repetitive nature of practice to enhance proficiency in a skill.

Fine-tune a skill

Means to make small adjustments or improvements to enhance the effectiveness of a skill.
Example: She spent hours fine-tuning her negotiation skills to close the deal successfully.
Note: It highlights the process of refining and perfecting a skill to achieve better results.

Skill up

Refers to the act of improving or developing one's skills, especially in a specific area.
Example: I need to skill up in digital marketing to advance in my career.
Note: It emphasizes the proactive effort to enhance skills, often in response to changing demands or goals.

Skill everyday (slang) expressions

Mad skills

Used to compliment someone's exceptional abilities or talents in a particular area.
Example: Check out his mad skills on the basketball court!
Note: The slang term 'mad skills' is more informal and expressive than simply using 'skill'.

Skillz

A playful variation of 'skills', often used in a more casual or light-hearted context.
Example: She's got serious cooking skillz - her dishes are amazing!
Note: The alteration in spelling adds a fun and informal tone to the term.

Skillful dodger

Refers to someone who is adept at avoiding tricky or challenging situations.
Example: He's a skillful dodger when it comes to answering difficult questions.
Note: Combines 'skillful' and 'dodger' to imply cleverly evading obstacles.

Ninja skills

Highlights exceptional abilities or expertise, likening them to the agility and precision associated with ninjas.
Example: She displayed ninja skills in fixing the technical issue in minutes.
Note: Draws on the imagery of ninjas to convey a sense of stealth and mastery in a skill.

Skillz pay the billz

A playful way to emphasize the importance of one's skills for earning income or achieving success.
Example: You'll start earning big once your skillz pay the billz.
Note: Transforms the concept of skills leading to financial gain into a catchy and memorable phrase.

Skill gap

Describes a significant difference in abilities or competencies, especially in a competitive or comparative context.
Example: There's a noticeable skill gap between the two teams, which is impacting the game.
Note: Focuses on the difference or disparity in skills rather than just the possession of skills themselves.

Skill - Examples

My sister has excellent cooking skills.
He has a great ability to learn new languages.
The job requires a lot of experience in marketing.

Skill grammar

Skill - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)
Lemma: skill
Conjugations
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): skills, skill
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): skill
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): skilled
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): skilling
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): skills
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): skill
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): skill
Syllables, Separation and Stress
skill Contains 1 syllables: skill
Phonetic transcription: ˈskil
skill , ˈskil (The red syllable is stressed)

Skill - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
skill: 800 - 900 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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