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Learn Very Common

Learn has 10 different meanings across 2 categories:

Verb · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

The act of learning something

"She spent the entire summer learning how to play the cello from a local instructor."

"She decided to pursue further learning after her degree."

Usage: Use "learn" as a noun only in specific contexts like "a learn from every mistake," where it refers to the lesson or experience gained. In standard English, it is far more common and correct to use "learning" when referring to the act of acquiring knowledge.

Verb
1

gain knowledge or skills

"She learned dancing from her sister"

"I learned Sanskrit"

"Children acquire language at an amazing rate"

2

get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally

"I learned that she has two grown-up children"

"I see that you have been promoted"

3

commit to memory; learn by heart

"Have you memorized your lines for the play yet?"

4

be a student of a certain subject

"She is reading for the bar exam"

5

impart skills or knowledge to

"I taught them French"

"He instructed me in building a boat"

6

find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort

"I want to see whether she speaks French"

"See whether it works"

"find out if he speaks Russian"

"Check whether the train leaves on time"

7

To acquire, or attempt to acquire knowledge or an ability to do something.

"The veteran mechanic learned the new apprentice how to safely replace a brake rotor."

8

To teach.

In plain English: To learn means to gain new knowledge or skills by studying or experiencing something.

"She learned to ride a bike last summer."

Usage: Use "learn" only when you are acquiring new knowledge or skills, not when you are instructing others. If you mean to teach someone else, use the verb "teach" instead.

Proper Noun
1

A surname​.

"At the family reunion, Aunt Learn told us stories about her childhood in Ohio."

Example Sentences
"She decided to pursue further learning after her degree." noun
"She learned to ride a bike last summer." verb
"I learned to ride my bicycle when I was six years old." verb
"She wants to learn Spanish before her trip next summer." verb
"You can never learn enough about cooking from your grandmother." verb
Related Terms
knowledge learning learner school study education educate belearn capacity get acquire get wind of forelearning discover soak up wise mind like steel trap take to numskull intelligence
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)

Origin

The word "learn" comes from Middle English and originally meant both to learn and to teach. Its deep roots lie in a Proto-Indo-European concept related to tracking or following a trail.

Rhyming Words
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