learning
Very HighFormal, Neutral, Informal
Definition
Meaning
The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught.
The body of knowledge or skill acquired over time; the process of cognitive or behavioral change resulting from interaction with information or environment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions primarily as a gerund (verbal noun) or an uncountable noun. Can denote both the process and the product of that process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences in usage. 'Learning' is used identically.
Connotations
Equally formal/informal in both dialects. Slightly more common in British English to use 'learning' in older institutional names (e.g., 'Society for the Advancement of Learning').
Frequency
Extremely high and similar frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Learning + about + NPLearning + of + NPLearning + from + NPLearning + to-infinitiveLearning + that-clauseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A steep learning curve”
- “Learn your lesson”
- “Learning the ropes”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to employee development, upskilling, and organizational knowledge management (e.g., 'We invest in continuous learning for our staff.').
Academic
Central concept in pedagogy, psychology, and cognitive science, often qualified (e.g., 'experiential learning', 'situated learning').
Everyday
Used for acquiring practical skills or general knowledge (e.g., 'I'm learning to drive.', 'She has a passion for learning.').
Technical
In computer science, refers to machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is learning French at evening class.
- They learned about the incident from the news.
American English
- He's learning how to code online.
- We learned that the meeting was cancelled.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. Use 'in a learned way' or similar periphrasis.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. Use 'in a learned way' or similar periphrasis.
adjective
British English
- The school is a recognised learning centre.
- She showed great learning ability.
American English
- The company promotes a learning culture.
- He has a learning disability.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Children love learning new words.
- I am learning English at school.
- Online learning has become very popular.
- He has difficulty learning languages.
- The research contributed to our understanding of adult learning processes.
- Her approach to learning is highly methodical.
- The institution fosters a culture of lifelong learning and critical reflection.
- Implicit learning occurs without conscious awareness of the acquired knowledge.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'LEARNer IN a Garden' – growing knowledge like plants.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEARNING IS A JOURNEY (embark on, path, milestones); LEARNING IS CONSTRUCTION (building, foundation, framework); LEARNING IS ACQUISITION (gain, gather, stockpile).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'учение' (which can mean 'teaching' or a 'doctrine'). 'Learning' as a noun is better translated as 'обучение' (process) or 'знания' (product).
- The gerund 'learning' is not always equivalent to the Russian verbal noun 'изучение', which is more active. 'Learning' can be passive.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a plural countable noun (e.g., 'I have many learnings' – non-standard in formal writing).
- Confusing 'learnings' (corporate jargon) with standard 'lessons learned' or 'knowledge'.
- Misspelling as 'lerning'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common conceptual metaphor for 'learning'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is widely considered corporate jargon and is non-standard in formal academic or general writing. Use 'lessons', 'insights', or 'knowledge' instead.
'Studying' is the active, intentional process of trying to learn (e.g., reading a textbook). 'Learning' is the successful outcome or the overall process of acquiring knowledge, which can happen with or without formal study.
Yes, in compound nouns like 'learning objectives', 'learning disability'. It functions as a noun modifier (attributive noun), not a true adjective like 'intelligent'.
The symbol /ɝː/ represents the 'rhotic' vowel sound in American English, where the 'r' colouring is integral to the vowel itself. It's like saying 'urr' in 'fur' (but longer) followed by 'ning'.
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