1
: a passage from sacred writings read in a service of worship
2
a
: a piece of instruction
b
: a reading or exercise to be studied by a pupil
c
: a division of a course of instruction
3
a
: something learned by study or experience
his years of travel had taught him valuable lessons
b
: an instructive example
the lessons of history
c
lessoned; lessoning
ˈle-sə-niŋ 
ˈles-niŋ
Synonyms
Examples of lesson in a Sentence
Noun
You can't go out to play until you've finished your lessons.
The book is divided into 12 lessons.
She took piano lessons for years.
political leaders who have failed to learn the lessons of history
I've learned my lesson—I'll never do that again!
Let that be a lesson to you—if you don't take better care of your toys they'll get broken!
Verb
would tirelessly lesson the children in proper manners
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 24 Nov. 2023
Kim Kardashian is giving North West a lesson in loyalty.
—Genevieve Cepeda, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
Some kits even use virtual reality (and come with a VR headset for a phone) to enhance the lesson in a way that really excites kids.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 21 Nov. 2023
In blunter terms, paraphrasing a saltier expression, mess around and find out.
Democrats should have learned that lesson from the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which created the independent counsel.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023
Time will tell if Musk’s $44 billion takeover will become a business-school case study in how to rejuvenate a company and pivot it toward a brighter future, or a lesson in how rapidly unrestrained hubris can destroy value.
—Bykylie Robison, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
Gratitude tie-in: Gratitude exists on a parallel plane from this book, but its preoccupation with self-determination (as an alternative to peer pressure) offers a different, equally valuable lesson for parents looking to counterbalance messages of materialism during the holidays.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2023
In the evening, after tutoring and piano lessons, the family eats dinner together.
—Chloe Malle, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023
In this story is a lesson for the majority of companies operating today, but perhaps not an obvious one.
—Cory Munchbach, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Alissa Simon, Variety, 11 Sep. 2023
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson — who was director of the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department until the end of February — announced Thursday that Milwaukee's new order will lesson restrictions at museums, sporting events, bars and restaurants.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2021
Wray did not explain how the FBI deduced a connection between Chinese efforts to lesson the effects of sanctions and any potential planning for an invasion of Taiwan.
—Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 6 July 2022
Democrats are battling among themselves over how, and whether, to lesson some of these curbs.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022
Oregon tried to lesson the load on Verdell the past few springs, with last year’s practices cut short before full contact any way.
—oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2021
Regents were deciding whether to drop four men’s sports -- indoor and outdoor track, gymnastics and tennis -- as part of the athletic department’s attempt to lesson the financial blow caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
—oregonlive, 10 Oct. 2020
The Pac-12′s daily, rapid-response testing will lesson the risk of those kind of outbreaks within a team.
—oregonlive, 19 Sep. 2020
In theory, the Pac-12′s greater resources and capability for frequent and rapid testing should lesson the risk.
—oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2020
See More
Noun
With the help of 100 expert linguists, lessons are made available for every skill level, from beginner to intermediate to advanced.
—Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 24 Nov. 2023
Kim Kardashian is giving North West a lesson in loyalty.
—Genevieve Cepeda, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
Some kits even use virtual reality (and come with a VR headset for a phone) to enhance the lesson in a way that really excites kids.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 21 Nov. 2023
In blunter terms, paraphrasing a saltier expression, mess around and find out.
Democrats should have learned that lesson from the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which created the independent counsel.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023
Time will tell if Musk’s $44 billion takeover will become a business-school case study in how to rejuvenate a company and pivot it toward a brighter future, or a lesson in how rapidly unrestrained hubris can destroy value.
—Bykylie Robison, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
Gratitude tie-in: Gratitude exists on a parallel plane from this book, but its preoccupation with self-determination (as an alternative to peer pressure) offers a different, equally valuable lesson for parents looking to counterbalance messages of materialism during the holidays.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2023
In the evening, after tutoring and piano lessons, the family eats dinner together.
—Chloe Malle, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023
In this story is a lesson for the majority of companies operating today, but perhaps not an obvious one.
—Cory Munchbach, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Verb
Nearing 80-years-old and urged by his wife Grete (Lena Olin) to reduce some of his store of papers, Winton, who never told his family about his role in saving so many refugees, wonders what lessons the scrapbook documenting his work might offer to a wider public.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 11 Sep. 2023
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson — who was director of the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department until the end of February — announced Thursday that Milwaukee's new order will lesson restrictions at museums, sporting events, bars and restaurants.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2021
Wray did not explain how the FBI deduced a connection between Chinese efforts to lesson the effects of sanctions and any potential planning for an invasion of Taiwan.
—Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 6 July 2022
Democrats are battling among themselves over how, and whether, to lesson some of these curbs.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022
Oregon tried to lesson the load on Verdell the past few springs, with last year’s practices cut short before full contact any way.
—oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2021
Regents were deciding whether to drop four men’s sports -- indoor and outdoor track, gymnastics and tennis -- as part of the athletic department’s attempt to lesson the financial blow caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
—oregonlive, 10 Oct. 2020
The Pac-12′s daily, rapid-response testing will lesson the risk of those kind of outbreaks within a team.
—oregonlive, 19 Sep. 2020
In theory, the Pac-12′s greater resources and capability for frequent and rapid testing should lesson the risk.
—oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lesson.' 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, from Anglo-French leçon, from Late Latin lection-, lectio, from Latin, act of reading, from legere to read — more at legend
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of lesson was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing lesson
Dictionary Entries Near lesson
Cite this Entry
“Lesson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lesson. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
lesson
noun
les·son
ˈles-ᵊn
1
: a part of the Scripture read in a church service
2
a
: a reading or exercise assigned to be studied
b
: something learned by study or experience
More from Merriam-Webster on lesson
Nglish: Translation of lesson for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lesson for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share