LEARN (learnt)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: learnt   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does learn mean? 

• LEARN (verb)
  The verb LEARN has 6 senses:

1. gain knowledge or skills

2. get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally

3. commit to memory; learn by heart

4. be a student of a certain subject

5. impart skills or knowledge to

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

  Familiarity information: LEARN used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LEARN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they learn    ... he / she / it learns   
Past simple: learned    / learnt   
Past participle: learned    / learnt   
-ing form: learning   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Gain knowledge or skills

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

acquire; larn; learn

Context example:

Children acquire language at an amazing rate

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

catch up (learn belatedly; find out about something after it happened)

absorb; assimilate; ingest; take in (take up mentally)

hit the books; study (learn by reading books)

relearn (learn something again, as after having forgotten or neglected it)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They learn to move

Derivation:

learner (works for an expert to learn a trade)

learner (someone (especially a child) who learns (as from a teacher) or takes up knowledge or beliefs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

discover; find out; get a line; get wind; get word; hear; learn; pick up; see

Context example:

I see that you have been promoted

Verb group:

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

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

get the goods (discover some bad or hidden information about)

wise up (get wise to)

catch; trip up (detect a blunder or misstep)

ascertain (learn or discover with certainty)

discover; find (make a discovery)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They learn that there was a traffic accident

Sense 3

Meaning:

Commit to memory; learn by heart

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

con; learn; memorise; memorize

Context example:

Have you memorized your lines for the play yet?

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

hit the books; study (learn by reading books)

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

alternate; understudy (be an understudy or alternate for a role)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be a student of a certain subject

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

learn; read; study; take

Context example:

She is reading for the bar exam

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

prepare; train (undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession)

drill; exercise; practice; practise (learn by repetition)

audit (attend academic courses without getting credit)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Impart skills or knowledge to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

instruct; learn; teach

Context example:

He instructed me in building a boat

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

inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)

Cause:

acquire; larn; learn (gain knowledge or skills)

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

drill (teach by repetition)

condition (establish a conditioned response)

edify; enlighten (make understand)

coach; train (teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports)

lecture; talk (deliver a lecture or talk)

ground (instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject)

unteach (cause to unlearn)

unteach (cause to disbelieve; teach someone the contrary of what he or she had learned earlier)

tutor (be a tutor to someone; give individual instruction)

mentor (serve as a teacher or trusted counselor)

induct (introduce or initiate)

spoonfeed (teach without challenging the students)

reinforce; reward (strengthen and support with rewards)

catechise; catechize (give religious instructions to)

indoctrinate (teach doctrines to; teach uncritically)

develop; educate; prepare; train (create by training and teaching)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 6

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

ascertain; check; determine; find out; learn; see; watch

Context example:

Check whether the train leaves on time

Verb group:

ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it (be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something)

ascertain; determine; find; find out (establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study)

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

test (determine the presence or properties of (a substance))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They learn whether there was a traffic accident

 Context examples 

If that be all, replied the sexton, he can learn that with me.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I want to learn some new songs, and my children need fitting up for the summer.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

These signals play an important role for neural development and additional higher-order activities such as learning and memory.

(Neurotrophin Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

These may include problems with social interactions, ability to control emotions and behaviors, and cognitive abilities (thinking, learning, remembering, and problem solving).

(Neuropsychologist, NCI Dictionary)

You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have learned something!

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

Not learned, discovered, or determined with certainty.

(Not Ascertained, NCI Thesaurus)

Use protective equipment, follow infection control guidelines, learn the right way to lift heavy objects, and find ways to manage stress.

(Occupational Health for Healthcare Providers, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

Here is a young man who learns suddenly that, if a certain older man dies, he will succeed to a fortune.

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

This gene is involved in vascular smooth muscle cell mitogenesis, spatial learning and neuronal survival.

(NDRG4 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

It was in this way that the grey cub learned other attributes of his mother than the soft, soothing tongue.

(White Fang, by Jack London)