experience
Forms
- Plural
- experiences
- present (v1)
- experience
- past (v2)
- experienced
- past participle (v3)
- experienced
- present participle
- experiencing
- 3rd person singular
- experiences
Definitions
1.The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering.
- It was an experience he would not soon forget.
2.An activity one has performed.
- Two months ago I did work experience in a factory.
3.A collection of events and/or activities from which an individual or group may gather knowledge, opinions, and skills.
- Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer in one word, from experience.
- Virtually all employers now require jobseekers to have work experience even for entry-level roles. Many believe this will hurt companies in the long run.
4.The knowledge thus gathered.
- Two months ago I did work experience in a factory.
1.To observe certain events; undergo a certain feeling or process; or perform certain actions that may alter one or contribute to one's knowledge, opinions, or skills.
Frequency
Overall
Very common· #421
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Very common
- Academic
- Common
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English experience, from Old French, from Latin experientia (“a trial, proof, experiment, experimental knowledge, experience”), from experiens, present participle of experiri (“to try, put to the test, undertake, undergo”), from ex (“out”) + peritus (“experienced, expert”), past participle of *periri (“to go through”); see expert and peril.