Definition of “learn” - English Dictionary

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“learn” in English

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learnverb

uk ​ /lɜːn/ us ​ /lɝːn/ learned or UK also learnt, learned or UK also learnt

A1 [ I or T ] to get knowledge or skill in a new subject or activity:

They learn Russian at school.
"Can you drive?" "I'm learning."
I've learned a lot about computers since I started work here.
[ + to infinitive ] I'm learning to play the piano.
[ + question word + to infinitive ] First you'll learn (how) to use this machine.

B1 [ T ] to make yourself remember a piece of writing by reading it or repeating it many times:

I don't know how actors manage to learn all those lines.
We were told to learn Portia's speech by heart (= be able to say it from memory) for homework.

B2 [ I or T ] to start to understand that you must change the way you behave:

She'll have to learn that she can't have everything she wants.
She soon learned not to contradict him.
He's not afraid to learn from his mistakes.

B1 [ I or T ] to be told facts or information that you did not know:

We were all shocked to learn of his death.
[ + (that) ] I later learned (that) the message had never arrived.
I only learned about the accident later.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

learn a/your lesson
learn to live with sth

(Definition of “learn” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“learn” in American English

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learnverb [ I/T ]

us ​ /lɜrn/

› to get knowledge or understanding of facts or ideas or of how to do things:

[ T ] We’re learning algebra.
[ I ] He’s not much of a cook, but he’s learning.
[ I ] Parents learned of the budget cuts in a letter from the school superintendent.
[ I ] I hope you’ll learn from your mistakes .
[ + to infinitive ] I learned to drive when I was 16.
[ + question word ] First you must learn how to use this computer.
learner
noun [ C ] us ​ /ˈlɜr·nər/

›

a fast/slow learner

Idiom(s)

learn a lesson
learn something the hard way

(Definition of “learn” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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