learning

[ lur-ning ]

noun

1. the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill:

   Students exhibit a clear love of learning, enjoying the relationships they have with their teachers.

2. knowledge acquired by systematic study in any field of scholarly application:

   She enjoys showing off her learning to her parents.

3. Psychology. the modification of behavior through practice, training, or experience.
4. Usually learnings. something that is learned through education or experience:

   Parents can help set up expectations, nurture curiosity, cultivate discipline, and reinforce learnings.

learning

/ ˈlɜːnɪŋ /

noun

1. knowledge gained by study; instruction or scholarship
2. the act of gaining knowledge
3. psychol any relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a direct result of experience

Other Words From

• un·learn·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of learning¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lerning, Old English leornung; learn, -ing ¹

Synonym Study

Learning, erudition, lore, scholarship refer to knowledge existing or acquired. Learning is the most general term. It may refer to knowledge obtained by systematic study or by trial and error: a man of learning; learning in the real world. Erudition suggests a thorough, formal, and profound sort of knowledge obtained by extensive research; it is especially applied to knowledge in fields other than those of mathematics and physical sciences: a man of vast erudition in languages. Lore is accumulated knowledge in a particular field, especially of a curious, anecdotal, or traditional nature; the word is now somewhat literary: nature lore; local lore. Scholarship is the formalized learning that is taught in schools, especially as actively employed by a person trying to master some field of knowledge or extend its bounds: high standards of scholarship in history.

Example Sentences

She encouraged those distraught over the election to seek spaces of healing and pledged UC’s “unwavering commitment” to continue serving society with higher learning, research and public service.

From Los Angeles Times

Introduced in 2020, the qualification includes a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job experience.

From BBC

Spotify will now offer seven video podcasts, including ‘Higher Learning,’ ‘Book of Basketball 2.0’ and ‘Fantasy Footballers.’

From Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Unified has offered the first details of what a cellphone-free school day will soon look like as educators attempt to break the digital-device obsession of a generation of students, aiming to get them off their screens and focused on classroom learning.

From Los Angeles Times

The California Phone-Free Schools Act ordered the state’s 1,000 school districts, charter schools and county education offices to draft student cellphone policies by July 1, 2026 — and leaves it up to schools to decide whether to enforce outright bans or some level of restrictions to “support pupil learning and well-being.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• culture
• information
• literature
• research
• schooling
• science
• study
• training