experience
C2Formal, Neutral, Informal
Definition
Meaning
Practical contact with and observation of facts or events.
The knowledge or skill acquired by such contact over time; an event or occurrence that leaves an impression on someone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both a countable event ('a bad experience') and an uncountable accumulation of knowledge/skill ('years of experience'). The verb form means 'to undergo or feel an event or emotion'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. Spelling consistent.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties. Slightly more formal register in UK English in certain professional contexts.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties with near-identical usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
experience + noun (e.g., experience pain)experience + adjective (e.g., experience firsthand)have + experience + of/in/with (e.g., have experience in management)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A learning experience”
- “To speak from experience”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to professional background and skills (e.g., 'candidate with relevant experience').
Academic
Used in qualitative research (e.g., 'the lived experience of participants').
Everyday
Describes personal events or feelings (e.g., 'I had a strange experience yesterday').
Technical
In computing, refers to user interaction (UX - User Experience).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Travellers may experience delays due to engineering works.
- She experienced a moment of pure joy.
American English
- You might experience some turbulence during the flight.
- The team experienced a major setback last quarter.
adverb
British English
- The job was done experientially, not from a textbook.
- (Rare usage)
American English
- He learns best experientially, through trial and error.
- (Rare usage)
adjective
British English
- We are looking for an experienced candidate.
- She is a highly experienced teacher.
American English
- We need an experienced developer for this project.
- He's an experienced hand at negotiation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It was my first experience on an airplane.
- I have no experience with computers.
- The job requires at least two years of experience.
- Moving to a new city was a great experience for me.
- Her extensive experience in the field made her the ideal candidate.
- Travelling alone is an experience that builds character.
- The study explores the subjective experience of chronic pain.
- He experienced a profound sense of loss after the incident.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ex-' (out of) and 'perience' sounding like 'pierce' - to pierce out into the world and gather knowledge.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPERIENCE IS A TEACHER / EXPERIENCE IS A POSSESSION
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'experiment' (эксперимент).
- Do not use 'опыт' for all contexts; 'skill' may be more accurate for professional competence.
- The verb 'to experience' is broader than Russian 'испытывать'; it can be neutral or positive.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a plural countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I have many experiences' sounds odd; prefer 'much experience' or 'many experiences' only for specific events).
- Confusing 'experienced' (adj) with 'experience' (noun) in sentences like 'She is very experience.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'experience' as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As general knowledge/skill, it's uncountable ('She has experience'). As a specific event, it's countable ('We shared an interesting experience').
'Experience' is knowledge gained from living or doing. 'Experiment' is a scientific test to prove or discover something.
Yes, it is neutral. Context determines positivity/negativity (e.g., 'a rewarding experience' vs. 'a harrowing experience').
Not exactly. 'Work experience' is broader, encompassing any paid or unpaid job history. An 'internship' is a specific type of supervised training period, often for students.
Collections
Part of a collection
Work and Jobs
A2 · 49 words · Jobs, professions and the world of work.
Travel and Culture
B1 · 48 words · Cultural experiences and traveling the world.
Workplace Vocabulary
B1 · 48 words · Professional language for the working environment.