ENGLISH
REFERENCE

learnt

v.
US //ˈɫɝnt// UK //lˈɜːnt// learnt
  1. 1 gained knowledge (v.)
    A1 Beginner British English

    to have gained knowledge or a skill by studying or practicing.

    the past tense or past participle of 'learn', denoting the acquisition of knowledge or skill through experience or study.

    Example

    She learnt how to ride a bike during the summer holidays.

    Example

    Having learnt the fundamentals of organic chemistry in secondary school, the student found the introductory university lectures quite manageable.

    Usage

    In British English, 'learnt' and 'learned' are both acceptable, though 'learnt' is more common for the past tense.

    Teacher's tip

    Advise students that 'learnt' is the standard British spelling, while American English almost exclusively uses 'learned'.
    Pitfall
    I have learned the piano since I was five.
    I have been learning the piano since I was five.

    Use the present perfect continuous for an action that started in the past and is still happening now.

Origin

From Middle English lernd, lernde, equivalent to learn + -t.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026