learn

verb

\ ˈlərn

learned\ ˈlərnd

, ˈlərnt

\; learning

Definition of learn

transitive verb

1a(1) : to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience learn a trade learned to play chess

(2) : memorize learn the lines of a play

b : to come to be able learn to dance

c : to come to realize learned that honesty paid

2a nonstandard : teach

b obsolete : to inform of something

3 : to come to know : hear we just learned that he was ill

intransitive verb

: to acquire knowledge or skill or a behavioral tendency were shocked to learn of her death

Other Words from learn Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Can learn mean teach?: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about learn

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Synonyms & Antonyms for learn

Synonyms

get, master, pick up

Antonyms

unlearn

Choose the Right Synonym for learn

discover, ascertain, determine, unearth, learn mean to find out what one did not previously know. discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter. discovered the source of the river ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty. attempts to ascertain the population of the region determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely. unable to determine the origin of the word unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden. unearth old records learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice. I learned her name only today learning Greek

Can learn mean teach?: Usage Guide

Learn in the sense of "teach" dates from the 13th century and was standard until at least the early 19th. made them drunk with true Hollands—and then learned them the art of making bargains — Washington Irving But by Mark Twain's time it was receding to a speech form associated chiefly with the less educated. never done nothing for three months but set in his back yard and learn that frog to jump — Mark Twain The present-day status of learn has not risen. This use persists in speech, but in writing it appears mainly in the representation of such speech or its deliberate imitation for effect.

Examples of learn in a Sentence

People learn throughout their lives. I can't swim yet, but I'm learning. She's interested in learning French. We had to learn the rules of the game. I'm trying to learn my lines for the play. We had to learn the names of the state capitals. She learned through a letter that her father had died. I later learned that they had never called. We finally learned the truth about what had happened.

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s endurance—a feminine strength that may not be inherent but is certainly learned, or forced upon women in the real world. — Jill Gutowitz, Glamour, "Captain Marvel Is a New Kind of Female Hero," 11 Mar. 2019 Rather than take over the family textile business, though, Francois, with Barbe-Nicole at his side, set about learning the wine business, expanding one of his family's minor side ventures. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "You Have the Founding Mothers of Champagne to Thank for the Bubbly You Drink Today," 8 Mar. 2019 While this is supposed to help the assistants like Alexa learn to give you better answers, this feature-not-a-bug has landed Amazon in a string of bizarre headlines. — Natt Garun, The Verge, "How to hear (and delete) every conversation your Amazon Alexa has recorded," 28 Feb. 2019 Their main goal is to help Vanya learn more about her powers and how to control them in the past, which means their whole big fight might be avoided in the future. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "All "The Umbrella Academy" Questions We Need Answered In Season 2," 27 Feb. 2019 Which means Congress may soon have a chance to see the final report — or at least, a summary of its findings — and learn once and for all what really happened and how deeply the president himself and others around him may have been involved. — Alex Ward, Vox, "These are the Trump associates who’ve pleaded guilty in the Mueller probe," 20 Feb. 2019 That, plus Quantic Dream finally broadens its sights to PC games once again, Overwatch players learn piano, another bizarre Fallout 76 patch mishap, Subnautica’s icy adventures, and more. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "This week in games: The sordid tale of Starbreeze's stumbles, Overwatch players learn piano (with guns)," 1 Feb. 2019 But lending today is incredibly strict, so strict in fact that some in the industry believe the lessons of 2008 were over-learned. — Jeff Andrews, Curbed, "Housing market signaled potential future downturn in 2018," 21 Dec. 2018 Wendy Williams fans were ecstatic to learn that their Queen of Tea is officially making her return to The Wendy Williams Show. — Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, "We Finally Know When Wendy William Is Coming Back to Her Show," 21 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'learn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.