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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:

He goes on many photo shoots with me, but does not bother to learn how to use the equipment or step up in organizing preproduction.

From MarketWatch Sep. 10, 2026

As we learn more based on their usage, we’re adjusting these limits as well.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 10, 2026

Madrid has a lot to learn from F1 about how to run a global spectacle; F1 could probably learn the true Spanish way.

From BBC Sep. 10, 2026

Around the country, students who learn about the artwork in history classes are gearing up for school trips, while businesses are bidding to capitalise on some of the fervour.

From Barron's Sep. 10, 2026

She already speaks two languages—her native Filipino, of course, and English, which was taught to Filipinos during the American occupation—but she wants to learn others.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

She added that she enjoys traveling with a group of strangers because she usually learns something new.

From MarketWatch Sep. 10, 2026

She learns of new ripples at the same time we do.

From Salon Sep. 7, 2026

Deep Cogito applies several techniques, including large-scale reinforcement learning, in which a model learns through a combination of penalties and rewards.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 26, 2026

In an Instagram post, Grasso said she needed her fans "now more than ever" as she learns more about the mental health condition.

From BBC Aug. 18, 2026

Hans goes away, and years later Cady learns that he’s wound up in England, where he’s struggling with ill health.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

We met her dog, learned about her hobbies and heard about her life before she met Epstein.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 9, 2026

Since your 2026 also included a big movie with “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” what have you learned the most this year?

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 9, 2026

Everything we know was learned after the fact.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 9, 2026

While the risk of explosion is believed to have been low, CalMac described it as a "critical failure" in the gas fuel system and said lessons had been learned.

From BBC Sep. 8, 2026

In churches and club rooms and private homes in those desperate days, I told the truths Betsie and I had learned in Ravensbruck.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

For those who never learnt as children, Cole says starting later can feel particularly exposing.

From BBC Aug. 31, 2026

During her courses, she learnt about tinting, waxing, facials and massage, which was taught as a separate module.

From BBC Aug. 30, 2026

LIV staff have learnt to put on a brave face.

From BBC Aug. 21, 2026

The BBC has also now learnt that the world's largest sperm bank, Cryos International, has blacklisted Dogus clinic since 2016.

From BBC Aug. 18, 2026

I don’t claim I’ve been immune to all of this, but I’ve learnt to live with it.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

If you fear healthcare costs in retirement, “start learning about Medicare,” Conti advised.

From MarketWatch Sep. 9, 2026

In Chicago, ACT UP’s Gregg Bordowitz became her mentor and professor, and for three years, Rosales immersed herself in learning, becoming obsessed with Gertrude Stein and philosophers like Gilles Deleuze.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 9, 2026

Many schools, which returned from summer break last week, have announced a switch to remote learning.

From Barron's Sep. 9, 2026

At Texas Tech, Mr. Buck reports, “even the courses focused on more practical classroom skills” emphasize “individual autonomy over learning through direct instruction.”

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 8, 2026

But, to be honest, learning everyone’s names seemed like a waste of time when I could be learning about the nitty.gritty details of George Washington’s role as our nation’s first spymaster.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin




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