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Definitions

learn

[lurn] / lɜrn /




Usage

What are other ways to say learn? To learn is to add to one's knowledge or information: to learn a language. To ascertain is to verify facts by inquiry or analysis: to ascertain the truth about an event. To detect implies becoming aware of something that had been obscure, secret, or concealed: to detect a flaw in reasoning. The verb discover is used with objective clauses as a synonym of learn in order to suggest that the new information acquired is surprising to the learner: I discovered that she had been married before.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for learn?
To learn is to acquire knowledge of something through study and/or experience. The process of acquiring knowledge is called learning. To learn a subject or topic is to gain understanding of it—to grasp it. To learn a skill is to become proficient in it (and perhaps eventually to master it). In many cases, learning is the result of teaching. But learning isn’t always formal, like that done in school. We often learn things by teaching ourselves. Learning often involves working to understand something, but sometimes it happens almost automatically. The informal term pick up is sometimes used in the context of acquiring knowledge or skills in this way, such as through immersion, as in I picked up Italian when I spent two semesters in Rome. Another sense of learn (used in phrases like learn of and learn about) means to become or be made aware of something. This often involves hearing about or being informed about something, but sometimes it is more active. Synonyms for the more active sense include ascertain, detect, and discover.
What is another word for eager to learn?
Someone who is eager to learn often has a thirst for knowledge. Such a person is often inherently curious. Students who are eager to learn are often studious. A more general term is enthusiastic.
What is another word for a quick learner?
A quick or fast learner could be described as a quick study. You could describe such a person as having a quick mind or a ready grasp of something or, more informally, as having a mind like a sponge. Such a person could also be described as perceptive.
Is it learnt or learned?
Learned and learnt are both past tense forms of learn, but learned is far more common, especially in everyday speech.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Buckingham Palace said it was a moment for the King to learn more about the history of slavery and resistance.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

"This analysis is pushing the boundaries to an extreme case to help us learn something about this jet quenching phenomenon and the conditions needed to generate a QGP."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Mission Viejo likely qualified for the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs with this the win, and will learn of its opponent on Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

Mr. Blackwood says they learn at Ralston “that they can have an uncynical relation to things that matter to them.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Now we’d learn if Tansy could go on being teacher or if she’d be turned out.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

He is the author of four books, including “Child of the Universe,” a children’s title about a girl who learns she is made of stardust.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

"It was a poor reaction from him and you hope he learns and he learns quickly."

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

The tactic’s efficacy depends on a confused audience, and every person who learns about the acronym is a little bit harder to fool.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2026

By revealing the intricate connections, specialized functions, and unusual physical structure of neurons in the locus coeruleus, the research provides a more detailed picture of how the animal brain communicates and learns.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

During his off-hours, Vincent learns how to navigate the city, which is a huge change from tiny Zundert.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

"All the stranger danger we had learned growing up was just out the window."

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

The discoveries at Oued Beht highlight how much remains to be learned about the deep history of north Africa.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Officials involved in those investigations suspected she was recruited by Chinese intelligence services after they learned of what they saw as a close relationship between her and the Nvidia chief, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

She added that they’ve learned recently that some newer applications have been processed, but there “doesn’t appear to be any rhyme or reason to the order they are processing these applications.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

We never knew what she’d learned at high school.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Wanjiru's niece, Esther Njoki, told the BBC that the family learnt of the postponement through the UK embassy and had received no official explanation.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Lessons need to be learnt after an inquiry found that government failings in care settings allowed the spread of Covid, a woman whose mother died during the pandemic has said.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

"I've learnt a lot as a captain, I've learnt a lot as a person," Brook, whose side return to action in a 50-over tri-series on Tuesday, told Press Association.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Griffith said she felt "sadness and frustration that women had to go through these experiences" for the review to happen and she wants lessons to be learnt across the industry.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

“I have learnt next to nothing, Joe. You think much of me. It’s only that.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

It initially focused on the rising cost of living, inequality, and deteriorating learning conditions.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

Despite believing she could write a novel in a matter of months, de Waal said it took more than a decade of rejection and learning the craft before she was published.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

“We’re not really learning how to deal with that grief.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

We’re learning that it’s increasingly sensitive about what that growth costs.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Irian wrinkled her forehead, dredging through her stock of learning.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell


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