Which term best describes the act of enhancing one's abilities over time?

The term that best describes the act of enhancing one's abilities over time is competence. Competence refers to the ability to do something successfully or efficiently, which often involves continuous improvement and skill development. This concept is closely tied to the idea of lifelong learning and personal development, where individuals actively seek to enhance their knowledge and capabilities across various domains.

Improving one's skills and knowledge demonstrates an increase in competence, allowing a person to perform tasks more effectively and adapt to new challenges. This pursuit of growth through training, practice, and education exemplifies the notion of competence as it reflects ongoing enhancement of one's abilities.

In contrast, the other terms signify negative or neutral states: incompetence implies a lack of ability, stagnation suggests a lack of growth or development over time, and regression indicates a return to a less advanced state or a decline in abilities. Therefore, these options do not align with the idea of enhancing one's abilities.