Basic Details
Word: Skilful
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Good at doing something, especially something that needs ability and training.
Synonyms: expert, able, talented, deft
Antonyms: clumsy, unskilled, inept
How to Spell Skilful
Syllables: skil - ful
Tricky part: British English writes skilful with one l in the middle and one l at the end. American English uses skillful, but skilfull and skillfull are wrong everywhere.
Watch out for: skilfull, skillfull, skilfel
Memory tip: In British spelling both doubles disappear: skill gives up one l and full gives up one l, leaving skil + ful.
Usage Examples
Example 1: A skilful potter can shape a vase with just a few turns of the wheel.
Example 2: The skilful surgeon finished the operation in under an hour.
Example 3: Our new captain is a skilful leader as well as a fine batter.
Fun Fact
Skill came into English from Old Norse skil, which meant knowledge or the ability to tell things apart.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word skilful as used in the sentence:
The skilful embroiderer from Lucknow stitched tiny flowers without a single crooked thread.
a) clumsy
b) expert
c) deft
d) talented
Show answer
a) clumsy. Crooked threads would come from clumsy hands, the opposite of skilful ones.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The skilfull goalkeeper dived to his left, tipped the penalty over the crossbar and then calmly organised his defenders for the corner kick that followed.
a) organised
b) goalkeeper
c) crossbar
d) skilfull
Show answer
d) skilfull. The ending is -ful with one l, as in careful and hopeful.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Only a llfuiks driver can steer a truck safely around these narrow mountain bends.
a) wilful
b) skilful
c) fitful
d) lawful
Show answer
b) skilful. Wilful, fitful and lawful have no k; skilful is the only option that uses the k in the jumble.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A skilful player is one who ____.
a) talks the most on the field
b) always arrives first at practice
c) owns the most expensive bat
d) has trained to play well
Show answer
d) has trained to play well
2. Which phrase describes skilful work?
a) cheap, quick and easy
b) rushed, messy and late
c) loud, cheerful and long
d) neat, careful and expert
Show answer
d) neat, careful and expert
