Learn — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Learn (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in

   "after months of trying, he finally learned the dance steps"

   similar: get, master, pick up, get the hang of
   related: apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, understand, absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in), imbibe, ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig up, discern, discover, examine, find out, hear, hit (on or upon), run down, scare up, search (for), see, track (down), tumble (to), unearth, major (in), study, memorize
   opposite: unlearn
   near: forget, misunderstand, miss, overlook, disregard, ignore, neglect

2. to come to an awareness of

   "the directors have since learned that they should examine the company's financial reports a little more closely"

   similar: ascertain, catch on (to), discover, find out, get on (to), hear, realize, see, wise (up), get wind of
   related: hit (on or upon), tumble (to), descry, detect, encounter, espy, spot, calculate, dope (out), figure out, find, puzzle (out), discern, mind, note, observe, perceive, divine
   near: miss, overlook, disregard, ignore, forget, unlearn, blanket, blot out, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, mask, occult, screen, shroud, veil

3. to come upon after searching, study, or effort

   "the police were astonished when they learned the identity of the students who had vandalized the school"

   similar: ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find, find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up
   related: espy, sight, spot, look for, search (for or out), seek
   opposite: miss, overlook, pass over
   near: lose, mislay, misplace, misset

4. to commit to memory

   "he learned the words to the song while performing karaoke"

   similar: con, memorize, study
   related: hark back (to), mind (chiefly dialect), recall, recollect, relive, remember, reminisce (about), retain, think (of), accept, apprehend, comprehend, get, grasp, know, understand, absorb, digest
   opposite: unlearn
   near: disremember, forget, misremember, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)