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

For all its advantages, learning how to actually insert NuvaRing can feel intimidating. — Korin Miller, SELF, "How to Insert NuvaRing So It Stays in Place," 25 Jan. 2019 More importantly, the results from this study can help scientists learn more about rogue waves in general. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Made a Wave in a Lab That Looks Almost Exactly Like a Famous Artwork," 25 Jan. 2019 But paying people to keep silent, as both Trump and Weinstein learned, is not foolproof. — Ben Widdicombe, Town & Country, "How Much Does It Cost to Keep Your Name Out of the News?," 18 Jan. 2019 Always wanted to hike or paint or learn photography? — Colleen Stinchcombe, Woman's Day, "How to Deal With Loneliness and Feelings of Isolation," 11 Jan. 2019 The whole experience ended up being a learning moment, Tori said. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "Tori Roloff Shares Details About Her Son Jackson's Scary Doctor Visit," 9 Jan. 2019 But the Warwickshire skull's excellent preservation means that scientists are still learning new things about the ichthyosaur lived. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How Modern Tech Solved the Mystery Behind This Ancient Reptile's Skull," 9 Jan. 2019 Considering that phones these days are pretty much all screen, learning how to fix a display can become pretty necessary, especially for the clumsy among us. — Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "How To Repair a Cracked Phone Screen," 28 Dec. 2018 As Young learns how to take care of her skin on her own, she's come to rely on her favorite Korean skin-care products and techniques. — Devon Abelman, Allure, "How Beauty Keeps Tiffany Young True to Her K-Pop Roots," 9 Nov. 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.