learned

American  

[lur-nid, lurnd] / ˈlɜr nɪd, lɜrnd /

adjective

1. having much knowledge; scholarly; erudite.

   learned professors.

2. connected or involved with the pursuit of knowledge, especially of a scholarly nature.

   a learned journal.

3. of or showing learning learn or knowledge; well-informed.

   learned in the ways of the world.

4. acquired by experience, study, etc..

   learned behavior.

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learned British  

/ ˈlɜːnɪd /

adjective

1. having great knowledge or erudition

2. involving or characterized by scholarship

3. (prenominal) a title applied in referring to a member of the legal profession, esp to a barrister

   my learned friend

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Other Word Forms

• half-learned adjective
• half-learnedly adverb
• learnedly adverb
• learnedness noun
• overlearned adjective
• overlearnedly adverb
• overlearnedness noun
• well-learned adjective

Etymology

Origin of learned

First recorded in 1300–50, learned is from the Middle English word lerned. See learn, -ed ²

Example Sentences

We also learned a lot of lessons in the 1970s and therefore now maintain strategic petroleum reserves that can provide a near-term buffer.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

These days, when Wilkinson looks back on her past, she sees it for what it’s worth—in terms of lessons learned and, of course, market value.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

You’d have thought he’d have learned as much from his emergency-tariffs strike out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The staff union wrote on social media that it learned about the coverage loss through an online portal “just hours before this goes into effect.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

“You learned that at school?” the superintendent inquired.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• accomplished
• educated
• scholarly
• scientific
• studied
• well-educated