learn
/lɝn/
Reviewed on
Type
Verb
Meaning
To acquire knowledge, comprehension, or a skill through study, experience, or instruction.
She hopes to learn Japanese before traveling to Tokyo next spring.
Have you ever learned how to code in Python?
To become aware of a fact, event, or situation through information or discovery.
We learned about the sudden cancellation only an hour before the flight.
Did you learn who won the scholarship competition yesterday?
To memorize something so that it can be recalled without hesitation.
The young actor had to learn all his lines in one weekend.
She quickly learned the entire musical score by heart.
How it's used
When this means “acquire knowledge or a skill”
- learn a language
- learn how to swim
“learned it.”
He decided to learn Spanish before moving to Madrid.
When this means “become aware of information”
- learn of the decision
“learned of it.”
We learned about the schedule change this morning.
When this means “memorize”
- learn lines
“learned them.”
She learned her lines before the rehearsal started.
Collocations
- learn a lesson
- learn a skill
- learn from mistakes
- learn by heart
- learn the hard way
- eager to learn
- learn of an event
Antonyms
- teach
- forget
Idioms
learn the ropes
understand the details of how an organization or job works
It took him a few weeks to learn the ropes at his new office.
live and learn
an expression acknowledging that one has gained wisdom from an error
I left my umbrella on the train, but live and learn.