learning curve

American  

noun

1. Education. a graphic representation of progress in learning measured against the time required to achieve mastery.

2. the process of learning upon which such a representation is based.

   Her new job has a steep learning curve.

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learning curve British  

noun

1. a graphical representation of progress in learning

   I'm still only half way up the learning curve

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Example Sentences

Last season was a learning curve for Antonelli, who finished a solid seventh in the standings as a rookie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

The learning curve for rookies is steep when they’re suddenly taking a crash course on complex NFL schemes, and that’s especially acute for quarterbacks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

“You have those games from last year, but obviously you still have a learning curve of how to play alongside one another and that’s with everybody else on the team as well,” Reaves said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Dealing with a fast and furious game is, once again, a learning curve to take forward.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

So the engineers, who knew more about flying vehicles than any others, began scaling the next learning curve.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly