# learning

/ˈɫɝnɪŋ/ (US) · /lˈɜːnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/learning
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. the process of gaining knowledge

noun · CEFR A2

the process of getting new knowledge or skills through study or experience.

For teachers: the cognitive process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, or behaviours through experience, study, or instruction.

- Online tools have made language learning much easier for people at home.
- The curriculum focuses on active learning, encouraging students to engage with the material through practical experiments rather than passive observation.

### 2. accumulated knowledge

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

knowledge that you have gained from reading and studying for a long time.

For teachers: the body of knowledge or scholarship acquired by an individual through extensive study.

- The professor was a man of great learning and wrote many books.
- His reputation for profound learning was well-deserved, as he could quote classical literature in several different languages from memory.

## Examples

- Online tools can make learning a new language much easier.
- The school focuses on active learning where students participate in experiments rather than just reading books.
- Lifelong learning has become essential in the modern economy as rapid technological shifts require workers to constantly update their professional skill sets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.