noun · neutral

skill

/skɪl/SKILL

Band 5-6speakingtask2

the ability to do something well, especially because of training or experience.

Examples

Critical thinking is a skill employers increasingly value.

She developed her language skills through study abroad.

Manual skills are important in many trades.

Band 8 sentence

Educational programmes should focus not only on knowledge but on equipping students with transferable skills for the job market.

Collocations

  • develop skills
  • transferable skills
  • practical skills

Word family

skill nounskilled adjectiveskillful / skilful adjectiveskillfully adverbskilling verb/noun (less common)

Common mistakes

He has many skills in music, he can play piano, sing and write.He has many musical skills: he can play the piano, sing, and compose.

This job requires good skill.This job requires good skills.

Say it for a higher band

5ability6competence7+skill

Synonyms

ability

competence

Easily confused

ability

She has the ability to learn quickly.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In -ful / -less

Learn it with its set