learned

/ˈlɜːnɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɜːrnɪd/ (ame, ipa)

learned — adjective

  • learnedpositive
  • learnedercomparative
  • learnedestsuperlative

1. having or showing a deep level of knowledge that comes from a lot of study and r

1.形容詞B2
釋義

having or showing a deep level of knowledge that comes from a lot of study and reading — for example, a learned professor who can discuss ancient texts with ease, or a learned article full of careful reasoning.

例句

The learned professor delivered a fascinating lecture on ancient Chinese poetry.

attributive use: learned + profession noun

Her learned article on climate change was published in a respected science journal.

collocation: learned article

同義詞
  • erudite

    more formal and literary; suggests knowledge of specialist or obscure subjects

  • scholarly

    close in meaning; focuses on a serious, academic approach to study

  • knowledgeable

    more general; can apply to practical as well as academic knowledge

  • well-read

    emphasises wide reading rather than formal study

反義詞

文法句型

learned + noun (scholar, book, society)

用法筆記

Frequently used before a noun (a learned scholar, a learned society) rather than alone. The two-syllable pronunciation /ˈlɜːrnɪd/ distinguishes this adjective from the past-tense verb form learned (pronounced /lɜːrnd/).

常見錯誤

❌He is very learned about cooking.
✅He is very knowledgeable about cooking.
💡For everyday practical topics, knowledgeable or well-informed is more natural; learned is reserved for deep academic or intellectual knowledge.

2. developed or established through training, practice, or repeated experience rath

2.形容詞B2
釋義

developed or established through training, practice, or repeated experience rather than being naturally present from birth — for example, a learned skill like riding a bicycle, or a learned emotional response such as fear of a particular animal after a bad experience.

例句

Fear of the dark is often a learned response from childhood experiences.

collocation: learned response

The psychologist explained how learned helplessness can affect a student's willingness to try new things.

fixed term: learned helplessness

同義詞
  • acquired

    more general; can describe skills, habits, or traits gained over time

  • developed

    focuses on the process of growth through experience

  • conditioned

    specifically refers to behavioural conditioning through repeated pairing of stimuli

反義詞
  • innate

    present from birth; inborn

  • instinctive

    based on natural instinct rather than learning

  • natural

    existing without training or instruction

文法句型

learned + noun (behavior, response, skill)

用法筆記

This sense is the one that contrasts with innate, natural, or inborn and is common in psychology, education, and biology. It is almost always used attributively (before a noun) in fixed collocations such as learned behavior, learned response, learned skill.

常見錯誤

❌I have a learned fear of spiders.
✅I have a learned fear of spiders.' (correct use)
💡However, learners often confuse this with the adjective learned /ˈlɜːrnɪd/ (scholarly). The context usually makes the meaning clear: learned behavior belongs to psychology; a learned person belongs to academia.