learnt
Americanverb
verb
Usage
And is learnt in the dictionary? Learnt is a word. It is the simple past tense and the past participle of the verb learn. Learnt causes some confusion because learned is also a valid form for the past tense and past participle of learn. Learned is more commonly used than learnt.
What's the past tense of learn?
The past tense of learn can be either learned or learnt, with learned being more common. For example:- Last night, she learned all her times tables by heart.
- Last night, she learnt her times tables by heart.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Russian oil producer Tatneft has introduced fuel rationing at hundreds of petrol stations across the country, AFP learnt on Tuesday, as increased Ukrainian attacks hit Russia's refining capacity.
From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026
"And we've learnt how he used silence as one of his weapons," adds Susanna Rook, describing how George would "come home and not talk".
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
One of them, Corinna, 60, said she learnt that her father had joined the Nazis in 1935 -- two years after Hitler seized power.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Whatever its limitations, AI hasn't learnt to treat people that poorly.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
‘We have learnt a few things through Treebeard, the Old Ent, but that is not nearly enough.’
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
