learn

learn

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Pronunciation

Learn

IPA Phonetic Spelling: /lɜːrn/ (General American) or /lɜːn/ (Received Pronunciation - British English)

• For /lɜːrn/ (General American - 1 syllable):

• /l/ as in "light" (voiced alveolar lateral approximant)

• /ɜːr/ as in "bird" (r-colored open-mid central unrounded vowel)

• /n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)

• For /lɜːn/ (Received Pronunciation - 1 syllable):

• /l/ as in "light" (voiced alveolar lateral approximant)

• /ɜː/ as in "nurse" (open-mid central unrounded vowel)

• /n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)

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Word Form Variations

Verb:

• Base form: learn

• Past tense: learned (or learnt, especially in British English)

• Past participle: learned (or learnt, especially in British English)

• Present participle: learning

• Third-person singular present: learns

Noun (derived):

• learning (the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill)

• learner (a person who is learning)

Adjective (derived):

• learned (often pronounced /ˈlɜːrnɪd/ or /ˈlɜːnɪd/ when meaning "knowledgeable")

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Verb

1. To gain knowledge of or skill in something by study, experience, or being taught; to acquire information or abilities.

• Synonyms: acquire, master, grasp, comprehend, absorb, pick up (informal), study, discover

• Antonyms: forget, unlearn, misunderstand, ignore, neglect, teach (as the opposite action)

2. To become aware of something by information or observation; to come to know or find out.

• Synonyms: discover, ascertain, find out, realize, comprehend, be informed

• Antonyms: overlook, miss, be unaware of, be ignorant of

3. To commit to memory; to memorize. (Often implies rote learning)

• Synonyms: memorize, commit to memory, rote learn, get by heart

• Antonyms: forget, disregard

4. To be taught or instructed in a subject or skill. (Passive sense, "to be learned")

• Synonyms: be instructed, be taught, receive instruction, be educated

• Antonyms: teach, instruct, educate

Noun (derived: learning)

1. The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught.

• Synonyms: education, instruction, knowledge, study, scholarship, acquisition

• Antonyms: ignorance, illiteracy, forgetting, unlearning

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "The young apprentice was eager to learn the ancient craft of blacksmithing from his master." (From a fictional novel, referring to acquiring skill)

• "To fully understand human behavior, one must first learn to observe without judgment." (From a philosophy text or psychology book, generic example, referring to acquiring understanding)

• "The book offers practical strategies for adults to learn new languages quickly and effectively." (From a non-fiction educational guide)

Newspapers:

• "Students are encouraged to learn from their mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth." (From an educational column or editorial, referring to gaining insight)

• "Economists are trying to learn what factors contributed most to the recent market volatility." (From a financial news report, referring to discovering information)

• "A new report highlights the importance of lifelong learning for career adaptability in the modern economy." (From a business or education section,, referring to continuous acquisition of knowledge)

Online Publications:

• "Free online courses to help you learn to code in Python." (From an educational website, e.g., Coursera or freeCodeCamp.org)

• "This viral video teaches you how to learn any new skill in 20 hours." (From a self-improvement blog or YouTube channel, e.g., Lifehack.org)

• "Researchers are continually learning more about the long-term effects of climate change." (From a science news site, e.g., ScienceDaily)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "You live, you learn, and then you die." (Dialogue from various films, often in a cynical or philosophical context, generic example)

• Television Series: "I need to learn how to cook if I want to survive on my own." (Dialogue from a sitcom or drama, generic example)

• Music (Song Lyrics): "I get by with a little help from my friends." (This classic song lyric, from "With a Little Help from My Friends" by The Beatles, doesn't contain "learn." I will replace it with a more fitting example.) -> "You live and you learn, ain't it the truth?" (From a pop or country song, generic example)

• Video Games: "Your character must learn new spells and abilities to defeat stronger enemies." (In-game instruction or tutorial, generic example, e.g., Skyrim or World of Warcraft)

• Podcasts: "Our guest today discusses how to learn from failure and turn setbacks into successes." (From a business or motivational podcast, generic example)

General Public Discourse:

• "I want to learn to play the guitar." (Common personal goal)

• "Did you learn anything new today?" (Common conversational question)

• "You have to learn to walk before you can run." (Common proverb)

• "It's never too late to learn." (Common motivational saying)

• "I'm learning a lot from this experience." (Common personal reflection)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Learn

1. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” — Mahatma Gandhi

2. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin

3. “Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes.” — John Dewey

4. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” — John F. Kennedy

5. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” — Henry Ford

6. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss

7. “We learn from history that we do not learn from history.” — Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

8. “I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.” — Winston Churchill

9. “You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be.” — Marianne Williamson

10. “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

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Etymology

The word "learn" has a very old and strong history, stemming from ancient Germanic roots.

It comes from the Proto-Germanic word *liznōną (a reconstructed word), which meant "to follow a track" or "to acquire knowledge." This suggests an original connection to the idea of tracing or following information to gain understanding.

This Proto-Germanic word then evolved into the Old English verb "leornian."

So, the first known use and meaning of "learn" in English (from its Old English form) dates back to before 900 AD. At that time, it already meant "to acquire knowledge or skill; to be taught, to study." It could also sometimes mean "to teach" (a meaning that later died out in standard English but persists in some dialects, like "I'll learn ya!"). The core idea of gaining knowledge or skill has been central to "learn" throughout its long history.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Learn

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "learn," supplemented as needed:

• Learn by heart: To memorize thoroughly.

• Learn the ropes: To understand how to do a new job or task.

• Learn one's lesson: To gain wisdom from a past mistake or negative experience.

• Learn something the hard way: To gain knowledge or experience through difficult or unpleasant means.

• Learn from experience: To gain knowledge or understanding from past events.

• Learn the tricks of the trade: To acquire the specialized skills or knowledge of a particular profession or activity.

• Live and learn: To gain wisdom from life's experiences, especially mistakes.

• You live, you learn: Similar to "live and learn," often said after making a mistake.

• So much to learn: An expression of vast knowledge to acquire. (Original phrase, emphasizing scope)

• Acquire knowledge: To gain information or understanding. (Synonymous phrase)

• Grasp the concept: To understand an idea fully. (Synonymous phrase)

• Pick up a skill: To learn a new ability, often informally. (Synonymous phrase)

• Gain insight: To achieve a deeper understanding. (Original phrase, focuses on profound learning)

• Come to understand: To eventually comprehend something. (Synonymous phrase)

• Master a craft: To become highly skilled in a particular art or trade. (Synonymous with advanced learning)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of learn from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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