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

"When you have consolidation of legacy studios, as we learned with Disney and Fox, the amount of movies produced goes down, prices go up, and we think that is bad for theaters," he said.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

During her time on the ISS in 2019 to 2020, "she learned to play a song for her husband on the keyboard for their wedding anniversary".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Residents learned of the project just nine days before a scheduled city council vote in mid-February.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

The eight members of the Filipina girl group Bini learned they were playing Coachella the same way their fans did: from people freaking out on social media when the lineup dropped.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

We never knew what she’d learned at high school.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

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