learn

verb \ ˈlərn \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of learn

learned play \ˈlərnd, ˈlərnt\; learning

transitive verb

1 a (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

2 a 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

—

learnable

play \ˈlər-nə-bəl\ adjective

—

learner

noun

See learn defined for English-language learners

See learn defined for kids

Can learn mean teach?

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 of learn from the Web

After that crash, police learned that Earle had been involved in an earlier crash that same day.

— dom calicchio, Fox News, "Cop who died after crash was in separate crash less than hour earlier, police say," 11 Apr. 2018
For more summer beauty picks: Now, learn how to master the flare highlight technique: Don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter.

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "Becca Cosmetics Is Launching a Creamsicle-Inspired Highlighter for Summer," 11 Apr. 2018
Smith learned that concerns about a link between talc and ovarian cancer started surfacing around 1971, when a small group of scientists wrote about finding talc particles deeply embedded in ovarian and cervical tumor tissue.

— jen christensen, CNN, "Does talcum powder cause cancer? A legal and scientific battle rages," 11 Apr. 2018
But neuroscientists are learning the story is not quite so simple, and that some people are likely better equipped from birth to deal with adversity.

— gary stix, Scientific American, "Can a Pill that Boosts ‘Resilience’ Treat Depression?," 11 Apr. 2018
Later, and not captured on film, U.S. agents left the man in a park on the American side of the border and lost track of his whereabouts for nearly a month, NBC News has learned.

— NBC News, "Video shows U.S. agents trying to dump injured man over Mexican border," 11 Apr. 2018
In the village of Teotitlán del Valle, learn how to make a traditional 12-ingredient mole and a cactus salad with a Zapotec cook.

— ashlea halpern, The Cut, "12 Epic, All-Inclusive Honeymoon Itineraries," 11 Apr. 2018
Millennials learn differently than older players, and teams like the Rams and 49ers have done studies on how to conduct meetings with the younger generation.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Daugherty: Cincinnati Reds prospect Nick Senzel should be playing," 11 Apr. 2018
Facebook didn't learn of the data sharing arrangement until 2015, according to Zuckerberg.

— kevin diaz, San Antonio Express-News, "Cambridge Analytica? Cruz presses Zuckerberg on alleged 'political bias' on Facebook," 10 Apr. 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of learn

Middle English lernen, from Old English leornian; akin to Old High German lernēn to learn, Old English last footprint, Latin lira furrow, track

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

learn Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

LEARN Defined for English Language Learners

learn

verb

Definition of learn for English Language Learners

: to gain knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing something
: to cause (something) to be in your memory by studying it
: to hear or be told (something) : to find out (something)