Origin: Latin suffix -ence
Experience has 10 different meanings across 2 categories:
the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
"a man of experience"
"experience is the best teacher"
the content of direct observation or participation in an event
"he had a religious experience"
"he recalled the experience vividly"
an event as apprehended
"a surprising experience"
"that painful experience certainly got our attention"
The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering.
"The horror movie failed to create a genuine sense of dread because watching it on screen lacked the raw experience of being trapped in the dark basement alone."
In plain English: Experience is something you learn by doing things and going through events in your life.
"She shared her years of experience working in healthcare."
Usage: Use "experience" as a noun to describe knowledge gained through direct involvement in events rather than just reading about them. You can refer to your experience of a specific situation, such as the thrill of riding a roller coaster, to mean your personal impression or actual enjoyment of it.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
"We had many trials to go through"
"he saw action in Viet Nam"
have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations
"I know the feeling!"
"have you ever known hunger?"
"I have lived a kind of hell when I was a drug addict"
"The holocaust survivors have lived a nightmare"
"I lived through two divorces"
go through (mental or physical states or experiences)
"get an idea"
"experience vertigo"
"get nauseous"
"receive injuries"
"have a feeling"
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
"She felt resentful"
"He felt regret"
To observe certain events; undergo a certain feeling or process; or perform certain actions that may alter one or contribute to one's knowledge, opinions, or skills.
"The new interns spent their first week experiencing the chaotic energy of our busy holiday season before they could truly understand how to manage it effectively."
In plain English: To experience something means to go through it and feel what is happening.
"You need to experience this flight to believe how smooth it is."
Usage: Use "experience" as a verb to describe personally undergoing an event, feeling, or process that shapes your knowledge or skills. It requires a direct object, such as experiencing joy or experiencing a storm, rather than being used intransitively without one.
The word "experience" entered English from the Old French and Latin words for a trial or proof, originally describing something put to the test. It replaced the native Old English term āfandung to describe knowledge gained through such trials.