learn

[ lurn ]

verb (used with object)

, learned [lurnd] or learnt [lurnt], learn·ing [lur, -ning].

1. to acquire knowledge of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience:

   to learn French;

   to learn to ski.

2. to become informed of or acquainted with; ascertain:

   to learn the truth.

3. to memorize:

   He learned the poem so he could recite it at the dinner.

4. to gain (a habit, mannerism, etc.) by experience, exposure to example, or the like; acquire:

   She learned patience from her father.

5. (of a device or machine, especially a computer) to perform an analogue of human learning with artificial intelligence.
6. Nonstandard. to instruct in; teach.

verb (used without object)

, learned [lurnd] or learnt [lurnt], learn·ing [lur, -ning].

1. to acquire knowledge or skill:

   to learn rapidly.

2. to become informed (usually followed by of ):

   to learn of an accident.

learn

/ lɜːn /

verb

1. when tr, may take a clause as object to gain knowledge of (something) or acquire skill in (some art or practice)
2. tr to commit to memory
3. tr to gain by experience, example, etc
4. intr; often foll by of or about to become informed; know
5. not_standard.
   to teach

Derived Forms

• ˈlearnable, adjective

Other Words From

• learna·ble adjective
• mis·learn verb mislearned or mislearnt mislearning
• outlearn verb (used with object) outlearned or outlearnt outlearning
• re·learn verb relearned or relearnt relearning

Word History and Origins

Origin of learn¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lernen, Old English leornian “to learn, read, ponder” (cognate with German lernen ); akin to lesan “to glean” (cognate with German lesen “to read”). See lear

Word History and Origins

Origin of learn¹

Old English leornian; related to Old High German lirnen

Idioms and Phrases

• by heart, learn
• little knowledge (learning) is a dangerous thing
• live and learn

Example Sentences

Human beings tend to learn more from mistakes than successes, they say, and this year, we are learning a ton.

From Fortune

If you are interested in learning more—for yourself or your executives—please go here, or shoot me a note.

From Fortune

The plan was simple—meet Bill McShae in rural Pennsylvania and learn how to trap star-nosed moles.

From Popular-Science

I awoke to learn that more than 1,800 buildings were reduced to ashes, less than 35 miles from where I slept.

From ProPublica

They were not without merit, though, because with each rejection she learned a little more.

From Fortune

That officer fretting about his “stance,” we learn, is plagued by PTSD that cripples him both on the job and at home.

From The Daily Beast

If nobody on the outside will send Teresa money, should she learn a prison hustle?

From The Daily Beast

Such errors are important because generations of young students now learn American history through film.

From The Daily Beast

In his preface, Solomon suggests that other movements can learn from this one.

From The Daily Beast

He returned home to learn that his 9-year-old son had been awakened in the night by a terrible dream.

From The Daily Beast

It may be fifty or a hundred centuries since men, although they were fully grown up, still went on trying to learn.

From Project Gutenberg

Since we are to learn by thinking we must at the outset learn the definition of the three Laws of Thinking.

From Project Gutenberg

If one has thoughts to express, it is possible to learn very soon some method of construction.

From Project Gutenberg

If they had only been able to learn from the licentiate Alcaraz, who was experienced and very prudent!

From Project Gutenberg

When, however, you learn by rote you know the task as you learned it, and not in the reverse way.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• determine
• enroll
• gain
• get
• grasp
• master
• pick up
• read
• receive
• review
• study

When To Use

What are other ways to say learn?

To learn something is to acquire knowledge of it through study or experience. How does learn compare with discover, ascertain, and detect? Find out on Thesaurus.com.