1 B1 idiomatic informal
To learn new skills or improve existing ones, typically for work or career advancement.
"The company encouraged all employees to skill up before the new software rollout."
inseparable
skill up
B1 informal inseparable intransitive
To acquire new skills or improve existing ones, especially in a professional or educational context.
In plain English
To learn new things so you become better at your job or a hobby.
What does "skill up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To train or equip a person or group with new capabilities (used transitively in some dialects).
"We need to skill up the entire sales team before the product launch."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move a skill upward — implying improvement or elevation of ability.
Actually means
To learn new things so you become better at your job or a hobby.
Usage tip
Common in tech, business, and career development contexts. Gained popularity in the 2010s alongside 'upskill'. Used frequently in job ads and LinkedIn posts. Primarily British and Australian English, though now global.
Words that pair with "skill up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
workforce employees team workers quickly fast
How to conjugate "skill up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
skill up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
skills up
he/she/it
Past simple
skilled up
yesterday
Past participle
skilled up
have + pp
-ing form
skilling up
continuous
Hear "skill up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "skill up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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