learning curve

noun

1
: a curve plotting performance against practice
especially : one graphing decline in unit costs with cumulative output
2
: the course of progress made in learning something

Examples of learning curve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Pappas called it a trial and error process, because there’s a learning curve involved to determine how grass reacts to a new environment. John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 All the features on the app work seamlessly with no learning curve required. Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 Some learning curve should be expected, and based on Saturday, the Chiefs might be wise to give him more time to develop. Jesse Newell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 That intuition usually takes years to build, but a new controller from MIT engineers compresses that learning curve to a single session. New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for learning curve

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of learning curve was in 1903

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Cite this Entry

“Learning curve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/learning%20curve. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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