learning

[ lur-ning ]

noun

1. the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill:

   Students exhibit a clear love of learning, enjoying the relationships they have with their teachers.

2. knowledge acquired by systematic study in any field of scholarly application:

   She enjoys showing off her learning to her parents.

3. Psychology. the modification of behavior through practice, training, or experience.
4. Usually learnings. something that is learned through education or experience:

   Parents can help set up expectations, nurture curiosity, cultivate discipline, and reinforce learnings.

learning

/ ˈlɜːnɪŋ /

noun

1. knowledge gained by study; instruction or scholarship
2. the act of gaining knowledge
3. psychol any relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a direct result of experience

Other Words From

• un·learn·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of learning¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lerning, Old English leornung; learn, -ing ¹

Synonym Study

Learning, erudition, lore, scholarship refer to knowledge existing or acquired. Learning is the most general term. It may refer to knowledge obtained by systematic study or by trial and error: a man of learning; learning in the real world. Erudition suggests a thorough, formal, and profound sort of knowledge obtained by extensive research; it is especially applied to knowledge in fields other than those of mathematics and physical sciences: a man of vast erudition in languages. Lore is accumulated knowledge in a particular field, especially of a curious, anecdotal, or traditional nature; the word is now somewhat literary: nature lore; local lore. Scholarship is the formalized learning that is taught in schools, especially as actively employed by a person trying to master some field of knowledge or extend its bounds: high standards of scholarship in history.

Example Sentences

What is most troubling is our – and I do mean “our” and not “their” – never treating these situations as learning opportunities.

From The Daily Beast

In the absence of typical classrooms and curriculums, West Africans have opted for alternate methods of learning and education.

From The Daily Beast

These tests prod and poke the children, creating lots of anxiety and taking away from the joy of learning.

From The Daily Beast

He is honest about his religious doubts, but he is committed to learning more about God.

From The Daily Beast

And Glenn, Tara, and Rosita spend the episode, um, learning to fish.

From The Daily Beast

All our intelligent students will insist upon learning what they can of these discussions and forming opinions for themselves.

From Project Gutenberg

Thomas Cooper, an English prelate, died; highly commended for his great learning and eloquence.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a patriot of the noblest and most extensive views, and justly celebrated as a man of learning, eloquent and refined.

From Project Gutenberg

It has only been a rare and exceptional class hitherto that has gone on learning throughout life.

From Project Gutenberg

At twelve, or fifteen, or sixteen, or twenty it was decided that they should stop learning.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• culture
• information
• literature
• research
• schooling
• science
• study
• training