ex·pe·ri·ence
ik-ˈspir-ē-ən(t)s 
1
a
: direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge
b
: the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
2
a
: practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity
b
: the length of such participation
has 10 years' experience in the job
3
: something personally encountered, undergone, or lived through
4
a
: the conscious events that make up an individual life
b
: the events that make up the conscious past of a community or nation or humankind generally
5
: the act or process of directly perceiving events or reality
experienced; experiencing
1
: to have experience of : undergo
experienced severe hardships as a child
2
: to learn by experience (see experience entry 1)
I have experienced that a landscape and the sky unfold the deepest beauty—
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
Human experience is the ultimate source and justification for all knowledge. Experience itself has accumulated in human memory and culture, gradually producing the methods of intelligence called "reason" and "science."
—John Shook, Free Inquiry, April/May 2008
Almost as charismatic as the ivory-bill, the California condor passed through a near-death experience and is today regaining a tentative foothold in parts of its erstwhile range.
—John Terborgh, New York Review of Books, 26 Apr. 2007
Many of his students have plenty of life experience but … never mastered the academic stuff at school.
—Daryl Crimp, New Zealand Geographic, March/April 2007
In the energetic, speculative, socially mobile urban society of the early 18th century, maternal impression, the idea that a child's appearance was directed by the mother's experiences, found advocates among London physicians as easily as it did among myth-fed country fold.
—Miranda Seymour, New York Times Book Review, 17 June 2007
Literary London was not merely a great gathering of experiences for [Samuel] Johnson, but a veritable public stew of good words.
—Andrew O'Hagan, New York Review, 27 Apr. 2006
The best way to learn is by experience.
We need someone with experience.
She gained a lot of experience at that job.
I know that from personal experience.
She has five years' experience as a computer programmer.
He wrote about his experiences as a pilot.
That experience is one I'd rather forget!
She had a frightening experience.
Verb
Performing a risk-reward analysis can often clarify decisions. If the risk of a failed marriage is that you may have to experience heartache and an expensive divorce, you'd better think carefully. If the risk of a bad ski run is that you'll die, you'd better think even more carefully about what you'll gain by taking that risk.
—Laurence Gonzales, National Geographic Adventure, March 2008
Of course, many reporters do their best to be accurate, but they must conform to the conventions of their craft, and there is always slippage between their choice of words and the nature of an event as experienced or perceived by others.
—Robert Darnton, New York Review of Books, 12 June 2008
I spent 20-some years as a foreign correspondent and experienced my share of harrowing travel. … And unlike the brave foreign correspondents that you see on TV or read about … , I was scared silly.
—P. J. O'Rourke, Forbes Life, June 2008
That was one of the worst days I've ever experienced.
The patient has been experiencing pain in her left shoulder.
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John Shook, Free Inquiry, April/May 2008
Almost as charismatic as the ivory-bill, the California condor passed through a near-death experience and is today regaining a tentative foothold in parts of its erstwhile range.
—John Terborgh, New York Review of Books, 26 Apr. 2007
Many of his students have plenty of life experience but … never mastered the academic stuff at school.
—Daryl Crimp, New Zealand Geographic, March/April 2007
In the energetic, speculative, socially mobile urban society of the early 18th century, maternal impression, the idea that a child's appearance was directed by the mother's experiences, found advocates among London physicians as easily as it did among myth-fed country fold.
—Miranda Seymour, New York Times Book Review, 17 June 2007
Literary London was not merely a great gathering of experiences for [Samuel] Johnson, but a veritable public stew of good words.
—Andrew O'Hagan, New York Review, 27 Apr. 2006
The best way to learn is by experience.
We need someone with experience.
She gained a lot of experience at that job.
I know that from personal experience.
She has five years' experience as a computer programmer.
He wrote about his experiences as a pilot.
That experience is one I'd rather forget!
She had a frightening experience.
Verb
Performing a risk-reward analysis can often clarify decisions. If the risk of a failed marriage is that you may have to experience heartache and an expensive divorce, you'd better think carefully. If the risk of a bad ski run is that you'll die, you'd better think even more carefully about what you'll gain by taking that risk.
—Laurence Gonzales, National Geographic Adventure, March 2008
Of course, many reporters do their best to be accurate, but they must conform to the conventions of their craft, and there is always slippage between their choice of words and the nature of an event as experienced or perceived by others.
—Robert Darnton, New York Review of Books, 12 June 2008
I spent 20-some years as a foreign correspondent and experienced my share of harrowing travel. … And unlike the brave foreign correspondents that you see on TV or read about … , I was scared silly.
—P. J. O'Rourke, Forbes Life, June 2008
That was one of the worst days I've ever experienced.
The patient has been experiencing pain in her left shoulder.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebGood Housekeeping, 15 Aug. 2023
Because people bring their own perspective, their own history, into the viewing experience.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Aug. 2023
Creating opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and experiences prepares all students – regardless of race or gender – for success in an increasingly diverse nation.
—Lorraine Dowler, The Conversation, 15 Aug. 2023
For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.
—USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2023
That experience has helped Summit adjust to this heat wave.
—Aaron Heisen, oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2023
So after matching up with them in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 scrimmages in consecutive days, McLeod was left impressed, understanding why this was a good experience for him and his teammates.
—Irie Harris, cleveland, 15 Aug. 2023
The overall shot experience is not a small consideration either.
—Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023
Lohan recently talked with Allure about said experience and what her life has looked like for the last few years living in Dubai.
—Gabi Thorne, Allure, 3 Aug. 2023
Brian Underwood, Women's Health, 16 Aug. 2023
The manual transmission is experiencing something of a relative resurgence over the last couple of years.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2023
Both stars experienced ups and downs in their love lives before meeting.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2023
While Parma was one of many southern Cuyahoga County communities where voters passed legislation in 2015 to allow deer culling on private property, the city never experienced resident interest in going ahead with a program.
—John Benson, cleveland, 16 Aug. 2023
By keeping to this schedule, research participants should experience minimal tolerance and will largely avoid any challenges with dependence or withdrawal.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2023
After all of the twists and turns of the last three years, federal student loan borrowers are experiencing a bit of fatigue and confusion as payments are set to resume in October.
—Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Aug. 2023
Shortstop Adalberto Mondesi, who’d resumed baseball activities last week, experienced discomfort and has once again been shut down.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2023
Target stock had already been experiencing a prolonged decline before the Pride Month boycotts.
—Jaclyn Peiser, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
Along with scoring the sheets, testers are able to provide open-ended feedback about their experiences.
—Good Housekeeping, 15 Aug. 2023
Because people bring their own perspective, their own history, into the viewing experience.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Aug. 2023
Creating opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and experiences prepares all students – regardless of race or gender – for success in an increasingly diverse nation.
—Lorraine Dowler, The Conversation, 15 Aug. 2023
For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.
—USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2023
That experience has helped Summit adjust to this heat wave.
—Aaron Heisen, oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2023
So after matching up with them in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 scrimmages in consecutive days, McLeod was left impressed, understanding why this was a good experience for him and his teammates.
—Irie Harris, cleveland, 15 Aug. 2023
The overall shot experience is not a small consideration either.
—Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023
Lohan recently talked with Allure about said experience and what her life has looked like for the last few years living in Dubai.
—Gabi Thorne, Allure, 3 Aug. 2023
Verb
In fact, in company tests, 97% of women experienced a noticeable reduction in lines after just one week of use.
—Brian Underwood, Women's Health, 16 Aug. 2023
The manual transmission is experiencing something of a relative resurgence over the last couple of years.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2023
Both stars experienced ups and downs in their love lives before meeting.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2023
While Parma was one of many southern Cuyahoga County communities where voters passed legislation in 2015 to allow deer culling on private property, the city never experienced resident interest in going ahead with a program.
—John Benson, cleveland, 16 Aug. 2023
By keeping to this schedule, research participants should experience minimal tolerance and will largely avoid any challenges with dependence or withdrawal.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2023
After all of the twists and turns of the last three years, federal student loan borrowers are experiencing a bit of fatigue and confusion as payments are set to resume in October.
—Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Aug. 2023
Shortstop Adalberto Mondesi, who’d resumed baseball activities last week, experienced discomfort and has once again been shut down.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2023
Target stock had already been experiencing a prolonged decline before the Pride Month boycotts.
—Jaclyn Peiser, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'experience.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin experientia "testing of possibilities, participation in events, skill gained by practice," noun derivative of experient-, experiens, present participle of experīrī "to put to the test, attempt, have experience of, undergo," from ex- ex- entry 1 + -perīrī, from a presumed verbal base *per- "test, risk," perhaps going back to Indo-European *pr̥h3-i-
Note: See note at peril entry 1.
Verb
verbal derivative of experience entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1580, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of experience was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing experience
Dictionary Entries Near experience
Cite this Entry
“Experience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experience. Accessed 25 Aug. 2023.
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Kids Definition
experience
1 of 2 noun
ex·pe·ri·ence
ik-ˈspir-ē-ən(t)s
1
: the actual living through an event or series of events
learn by experience
2
a
: skill or knowledge gained by actually doing or feeling a thing
a job that requires someone with experience
had gained a lot of experience by the end of the season
b
: the amount of such skill or knowledge
has five years' experience
3
: something one has actually done or lived through
my experiences as a riverboat pilot
experience
2 of 2 verb
experienced; experiencing
: to have experience of : undergo
experienced many hardships as a child
More from Merriam-Webster on experience
Nglish: Translation of experience for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of experience for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about experience
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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