# learnt

/ˈɫɝnt/ (US) · /lˈɜːnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/learnt
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. gained knowledge

verb · CEFR A1 · British English

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

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

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

Teaching tip: Advise students that 'learnt' is the standard British spelling, while American English almost exclusively uses 'learned'.

## Examples

- I learnt how to swim when I was five years old.
- She learnt the local dialect quickly by spending every afternoon talking with the shopkeepers in the village square.
- Having learnt the fundamental principles of organic chemistry during her undergraduate studies, she felt well-prepared to tackle the complexities of the advanced research project.

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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.