experience
/ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspɪriəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspir-ē-ən(t)s/ (ame, mw) · /ɪkˈspɪə.ri.əns/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspɪr.i.əns/ (ame, ipa)
experience — noun
- experiencesingular
- experiencesplural
1. the practical skill or understanding you build up through repeatedly doing a job
the practical skill or understanding you build up through repeatedly doing a job, taking part in an activity, or working in a field, as opposed to what you learn from books or classes.
Hao gained valuable experience working as a junior chef in a busy kitchen.
collocation: gain experience + working as + [job]
The job advertisement asks for at least three years of teaching experience.
collocation: [number] years of [job] experience
Zayd learned from experience that checking the oil saves money on car repairs.
Valentina has years of experience in caring for elderly patients at the hospital.
Do you have any previous experience working with children in a classroom setting?
- inexperience
lack of practice or knowledge in a particular area
文法句型
experience + in/of + doing something
experience + as + noun phrase
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense — do not say 'an experience' when referring to skill or knowledge. 'An experience' refers to a single event (see sense 3).
常見錯誤
2. the total set of events and situations you have lived through in your life or ca
the total set of events and situations you have lived through in your life or career, which shape your worldview and affect how you react to different circumstances.
From his own experience, Stefan knew that changing jobs can be very stressful.
phrase: from [possessive] own experience
Rachel's experience as a nurse taught her to stay calm in emergencies.
From my grandmother's experience, the best tomatoes come from plants watered every morning.
The old carpenter shared his experience of building houses by hand in the 1970s.
- background
more formal, often used in CVs or professional contexts
- history
can imply a record of events over a longer period
文法句型
experience + of + noun phrase
past experiences
from + possessive + experience
用法筆記
Often used with possessives ('my experience', 'her experience') or 'from experience' to show that a person's life events are the source of a belief or opinion.
常見錯誤
3. a single event, situation, or activity that you personally live through, leaving
a single event, situation, or activity that you personally live through, leaving an emotional or mental impression on you.
Visiting the Great Wall was an unforgettable experience for the whole class.
pattern: an + adjective + experience
Lucía had a frightening experience when her bike chain snapped on the mountain road.
The earthquake was a traumatic experience that stayed with Hao for years.
Tamar described her experience of climbing Mount Fuji at sunrise to her friends.
Caleb told us about his strange experience at the old hotel near the harbour.
文法句型
an + adjective + experience
experience + of + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Countable in this sense — you can talk about 'two experiences' when referring to separate events. Distinguish from sense 1, where 'experience' is uncountable and means skill, not a specific event.
常見錯誤
4. the way a particular activity, service, or event feels to the person taking part
the way a particular activity, service, or event feels to the person taking part in it, including all the sensory, emotional, and practical aspects.
The airline improved the customer experience by offering free Wi-Fi on all flights.
collocation: customer experience
Naoko enjoyed the museum experience because the exhibits were hands-on and interactive.
The app was redesigned to create a smoother and faster user experience.
Yasmin said the dining experience at the rooftop restaurant was worth every penny.
Hotel guests rated their overall experience based on cleanliness, service, and location.
- impression
focuses on the immediate feeling rather than the whole process
- feel
informal, more subjective and sensory
- encounter
more formal, often used in service-industry writing
文法句型
the + noun + experience
customer/dining/user + experience
用法筆記
Commonly used in business contexts with a preceding noun ('customer experience', 'user experience', 'guest experience'). The definite article 'the' often precedes this compound noun phrase.
常見錯誤
5. a pre-arranged leisure activity that is sold commercially, often as a present —
a pre-arranged leisure activity that is sold commercially, often as a present — examples include a cookery workshop, a hot-air balloon trip, or a spa session.
For his birthday, Rachel gave Sahil a hot-air balloon experience over the countryside.
pattern: give + someone + [type] + experience
The company sells gift experiences such as chocolate-making workshops and spa days.
collocation: gift experience
Quan booked a scuba diving experience as a surprise for his wife's birthday.
Instead of giving toys, many parents now buy experience vouchers for their children.
文法句型
buy/give + someone + an experience
experience + voucher/gift
用法筆記
Primarily British English in this commercial sense. In American English, 'experience gift' or 'activity gift' is more common. The activity is typically pre-paid and booked for a specific date.
experience — verb
- experiencepresent simple I / you / we / they
- experiences3rd person singular
- experiencing-ing form
- experiencedpast simple
1. to have a particular situation, feeling, or event happen to you or affect you di
to have a particular situation, feeling, or event happen to you or affect you directly — for example, experiencing pain after an injury, joy at a wedding, or a change in your life.
Stefan experienced a sharp pain in his knee after running ten kilometres.
experience + physical sensation
Many students experience anxiety before a big exam.
experience + emotion
The city experienced a sudden drop in temperature during the night.
Eli had never experienced real hunger until he volunteered at the food bank.
The Watanabe family experienced great joy when their son returned home safely.
- go through
slightly more informal, emphasises a difficult or challenging situation
- undergo
more formal, often for medical procedures or significant changes
- feel
limited to emotions and physical sensations, not situations or events
- encounter
suggests meeting something for the first time, often unexpectedly
文法句型
experience + noun phrase
experience + feeling/state/situation
用法筆記
Often used for physical sensations, emotions, and changes in conditions. The subject can be a person or an organisation/city. The object is typically not a concrete physical object — you experience feelings, events, or conditions, not a book or a chair.