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
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Even the mighty United States learned that lesson the hard way over the 22 years from 1949 to 1971, when Washington pretended that the Nationalist regime headquartered in Taipei constituted the legitimate government of mainland China.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lesson
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Noun
Schuster said the Fujian is more likely a stepping stone, and China’s next carrier, the Type 004, on which early construction is believed to have begun, will incorporate lessons learned from it.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
Some brands have learnt that lesson the hard way.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Even the mighty United States learned that lesson the hard way over the 22 years from 1949 to 1971, when Washington pretended that the Nationalist regime headquartered in Taipei constituted the legitimate government of mainland China.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lesson
Cite this Entry
“Lesson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lesson. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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