Know-how

n.capable, thoughtfuleveryday

What it means

Practical knowledge and skill gained through doing something.

Reach for it when praising applied competence rather than theoretical understanding alone

Cal's repair know-how saved the theater both time and money.

playful
savvy
practical judgment navigates a field efficiently
not when Savvy can imply commercial cunning and feels informal.
everyday
practical knowledge
the distinction from theory should be explicit
not when This clear phrase is less compact and lively than know-how.
everyday
skill
ability to perform the task is the central evidence
not when Skill may be physical and does not include knowing how to diagnose or adapt.
warm
craft
practiced making skill deserves respect
not when Craft is narrower and often tied to producing a tangible object.
professional
competence
work meets a reliable standard
not when Competence often sounds merely adequate; it misses the practical ingenuity of know-how.
professional
expertise
deep specialized competence is established
not when Expertise claims deeper specialization and may come from study instead of hands-on practice.
professional
hands-on experience
direct practice is the factual basis
not when Experience records exposure; it does not by itself establish good know-how.
formal
proficiency
repeated performance demonstrates a high level of skill
not when Proficiency measures execution and may not include troubleshooting judgment.

technical know-how
Her technical know-how kept the old transmitter operating.
practical know-how
Practical know-how turned the sketch into a sturdy working ramp.
local know-how
Local know-how helped the surveyors avoid the seasonally flooded road.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.