EXPERIENCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does experience mean? 

• EXPERIENCE (noun)
  The noun EXPERIENCE has 3 senses:

1. the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

2. the content of direct observation or participation in an event

3. an event as apprehended

  Familiarity information: EXPERIENCE used as a noun is uncommon.

• EXPERIENCE (verb)
  The verb EXPERIENCE has 5 senses:

1. undergo or live through a difficult experience

2. have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations

3. go through (mental or physical states or experiences)

4. undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

5. undergo

  Familiarity information: EXPERIENCE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXPERIENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

experience is the best teacher

Hypernyms ("experience" is a kind of...):

education (knowledge acquired by learning and instruction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "experience"):

woodcraft (skill and experience in matters relating to the woods (as hunting or fishing or camping))

familiarisation; familiarization (the experience of becoming familiar with something)

Antonym:

inexperience (lack of experience and the knowledge and understanding derived from experience)

Derivation:

experient (having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation)

experiential (derived from experience or the experience of existence)

experience (undergo or live through a difficult experience)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The content of direct observation or participation in an event

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

he recalled the experience vividly

Hypernyms ("experience" is a kind of...):

cognitive content; content; mental object (the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "experience"):

reality; world (all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you)

life; living (the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities)

re-experiencing; reliving (a recurrence of a prior experience)

reminder (an experience that causes you to remember something)

Derivation:

experience (undergo)

experience (have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations)

experience (undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind)

experience (go through (mental or physical states or experiences))

experiential (relating to or resulting from experience)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An event as apprehended

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

that painful experience certainly got our attention

Hypernyms ("experience" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Meronyms (parts of "experience"):

high point (the most enjoyable part of a given experience)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "experience"):

time (a person's experience on a particular occasion)

vision (a religious or mystical experience of a supernatural appearance)

head trip; trip (an exciting or stimulating experience)

taste (a brief experience of something)

out-of-body experience (the dissociative experience of observing yourself from an external perspective as though your mind or soul had left and was observing your body)

ordeal (a severe or trying experience)

loss (the experience of losing a loved one)

blast; good time (a highly pleasurable or exciting experience)

near-death experience (the experience of being close to death but surviving)

flash; flashing (a short vivid experience)

augury; foretoken; preindication; sign (an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come)

appalling (an experience that appalls)

Derivation:

experience (go through (mental or physical states or experiences))

experience (undergo or live through a difficult experience)

experience (undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind)

experience (undergo)

• EXPERIENCE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they experience    ... he / she / it experiences   
Past simple: experienced   
Past participle: experienced   
-ing form: experiencing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Undergo or live through a difficult experience

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

experience; go through; see

Context example:

he saw action in Viet Nam

Hypernyms (to "experience" is one way to...):

undergo (pass through)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "experience"):

experience; know; live (have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations)

endure; suffer (undergo or be subjected to)

meet; suffer (undergo or suffer)

feel (undergo passive experience of)

enjoy (have for one's benefit)

find; see; witness (perceive or be contemporaneous with)

come (experience orgasm)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

experience (the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities)

experience (an event as apprehended)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

experience; know; live

Context example:

I lived through two divorces

Hypernyms (to "experience" is one way to...):

experience; go through; see (undergo or live through a difficult experience)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "experience"):

taste (experience briefly)

live over; relive (experience again, often in the imagination)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

experience (the content of direct observation or participation in an event)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Go through (mental or physical states or experiences)

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

experience; get; have; receive

Context example:

have a feeling

Hypernyms (to "experience" is one way to...):

undergo (pass through)

"Experience" entails doing...:

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "experience"):

get; have; suffer; sustain (undergo (as of injuries and illnesses))

horripilate (have one's hair stand on end and get goosebumps)

take (experience or feel or submit to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

experience (the content of direct observation or participation in an event)

experience (an event as apprehended)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

experience; feel

Context example:

He felt regret

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "experience"):

sadden (come to feel sad)

joy; rejoice (feel happiness or joy)

sympathise; sympathize (share the feelings of; understand the sentiments of)

pride oneself; take pride (feel proud of)

burn (feel strong emotion, especially anger or passion)

die (feel indifferent towards)

fly high (be elated)

beam; glow; radiate; shine (experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion)

glow (be exuberant or high-spirited)

entertain; harbor; harbour; hold; nurse (maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings))

fume (be mad, angry, or furious)

suffer (experience (emotional) pain)

chafe (feel extreme irritation or anger)

anger; see red (become angry)

cool off (feel less enamoured of something or somebody)

smolder; smoulder (have strong suppressed feelings)

congratulate; plume; pride (be proud of)

recapture (experience anew)

incline (feel favorably disposed or willing)

regret; repent; rue (feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

experience (the content of direct observation or participation in an event)

experience (an event as apprehended)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Undergo

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

experience; have

Context example:

The stocks had a fast run-up

Hypernyms (to "experience" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "experience"):

encounter; meet; receive (experience as a reaction)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

experience (the content of direct observation or participation in an event)

experience (an event as apprehended)

 Context examples 

There was nothing markedly abnormal in any of these conditions, which harmonised with my former experiences.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This was a new experience for him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Before I go into the dining-room, I should like to hear your experience.”

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Mr. Hatherley,” said he.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On this day, you may take an important trip and have a memorable, lasting experience that thrills you.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

But I, who had more experience, could plainly observe some rudiments of it among the wild Yahoos.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

One of the greatest and suddenest storms on record has just been experienced here, with results both strange and unique.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

This he had never experienced at Judge Miller’s down in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

“I am glad your experience is so favourable,” I returned.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Her own terror rushed upon me, and in that moment of fear—the most terrible fear a man can experience—I knew that in inexpressible ways she was dear to me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)