skilful
/'skilful/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having or showing great ability, dexterity, or expertise in a particular activity or field. It describes someone who performs tasks with competence, precision, and ease due to practice and talent.
- Executed with or demonstrating such ability. It can also describe an action or a piece of work that shows high skill.
Usage
- The adjective skilful is used to describe a person or their actions. It is typically followed by the preposition 'at' when specifying an activity (e.g., skilful at painting) or 'in' when referring to a broader field (e.g., skilful in diplomacy). It can also be used attributively before a noun (e.g., a skilful surgeon) or predicatively after a linking verb (e.g., She is very skilful).
Examples
- Describing a person:
- He is a skilful negotiator who always gets a good deal.
- The carpenter was skilful at crafting intricate furniture.
- Describing an action or work:
- The repair required skilful handling of delicate tools.
- She made a skilful move to avoid the defender and score a goal.
Advanced Usage
- "To be skilful at/in (doing) something": This is the standard construction to indicate the area of skill.
- The programmer is skilful at debugging complex code.
- He is skilful in the art of persuasion.
- "Skilful" vs. "Skillful": Skilful is the standard spelling in British English, while skillful is the standard spelling in American English. Both have the same meaning and pronunciation.
Variants and Related Words
- Skillfully (Adverb): In a manner that shows skill.
- She skillfully navigated the boat through the narrow channel.
- Skillfulness (Noun): The quality or state of being skilful.
- His skillfulness with languages is impressive.
Synonyms
- Adept: Very skilled or proficient.
- Expert: Having or involving a high level of knowledge or skill.
- Proficient: Competent or skilled in doing or using something.
- Dexterous: Demonstrating neat skill, especially with the hands.
- Adroit: Clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
Antonyms
- Clumsy: Awkward in movement or action; not skillful.
- Inept: Having or showing no skill; incompetent.
- Unskilled: Not having or requiring special skill or training.
Idioms and Phrases
- A skilful/practiced hand: Someone who is experienced and skilled.
- The restoration was done by a skilful hand.
- The skillful application of (something): The clever and effective use of a method or resource.
- The project's success was due to the skillful application of new technology.
Adjective
- having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
- adept in handicrafts
- an adept juggler
- an expert job
- a good mechanic
- a practiced marksman
- a proficient engineer
- a lesser-known but no less skillful composer
- the effect was achieved by skillful retouching