Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

learn

- definition

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

verb

/lɜrn/

present tense
I/you/we/they	learn
he/she/it	learns
present participle	learning
past tense	learned
past participle	learned

Other entries for this word

Related dictionary definitions

Get It Right!

1
[intransitive/transitive] to gain knowledge or experience of something, for example by being taught
a bright girl who is already learning the alphabet
research into how children learn
What did you learn at school today?
We're learning fractions in math class this week.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of learn
1. a.
  [intransitive/transitive] to gain knowledge or a skill that makes it possible for you to do something
  I'm learning a lot of new computer skills in this job.
  learn to do something:
  The children are learning to swim this summer.
  learn how to do something:
  I want to learn how to dive.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of learn
2. b.
  [intransitive/transitive] to get the experience or knowledge that you need to behave or think in a particular way
  stereotypes that are learned at an early age
  Children mainly learn by copying adults.
  learn (how) to do something:
  You have to learn to be more patient.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of learn
3. c.
  [transitive] to study something so that you remember it exactly
  Your assignment is to learn the periodic table.
  learn something by heart (=exactly):
  It didn't take her long to learn her lines by heart.
  learn something by rote (=without thinking about or understanding it):
  facts learned by rote
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of learn
2
[intransitive/transitive] to gain new information about a situation, event, or person
She'll go to great lengths to keep you from learning her secrets.
learn about/of:
We didn't learn about the situation until it was too late.
learn (that):
We were distressed to learn that American troops were the targets of the attack.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of learn
3
[intransitive/transitive] to improve your behavior as a result of gaining greater experience or knowledge of something
His girlfriend's left him again. Some people never learn, do they?
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of learn

phrases

learn by doing
to learn a skill, ability, etc. by trying to do it
Some learn by doing – some prefer to learn by reading.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of learn
learn your lesson
to be unlikely to do something stupid or wrong again, because the last time you did it something unpleasant happened
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of learn

Get It Right!: learn

Get it right: learn

Use learn with a direct object when you are talking about gaining knowledge or experience of a particular skill, especially when someone is teaching you or training you. The most frequent objects are skill, technique, craft, language, and the names of languages (such as English or Chinese):

The program provides an opportunity to learn new skills.

Ireland is a popular destination for those interested in learning English.

Use learn about when you are talking about gaining more knowledge of a broad area or subject:

✗ You can just sit in front of your television and learn the culture of other countries.

✓ You can just sit in front of your television and learn about the culture of other countries.

Don't confuse learn, study, and teach. When the process of learning implies attending classes or doing research in order to gain an understanding of an academic subject, the verb to use is study (not learn):

✗ Getting a degree in architecture involves learning higher mathematics.

✓ Getting a degree in architecture involves studying higher mathematics.

Learn is never used to mean the same as teach:

✗ College learns you how to think and judge with your own mind.

✓ College teaches you how to think and judge with your own mind.

This is the American English definition of learn. View British English definition of learn.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

View the pronunciation for learn.

hypnobirthing

the process of giving birth to a baby using hypnosis techniques …

BuzzWord Article

More BuzzWords

BuzzWord archive

Word of the Day

flat racing

horse racing on flat ground with no fences or jumping

Open Dictionary

chapul

to fight for one's rights

add a word

More submissions

view entries

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog