WordGarden.ioexperience
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛkspˈiərɪəns/
US
- /ɪkˈspɪriəns/
Meanings
Noun
knowledge or skill gained by doing or living through things
an event or situation that someone lives through
the overall interaction or impression offered by a product, service, place, or event
Verb
to undergo or live through an event, condition, or period
to feel an emotion, sensation, or state of mind
Beyond the definition
An experience is something you live through—it's not just knowing about something, but actually doing it. You can read all about riding a roller coaster, but real understanding comes from feeling the drops and turns yourself!
Experiences shape who we are. A challenging experience might teach resilience, while a joyful one creates lasting memories. We talk about "life experience" as the accumulation of everything you've gone through. The word can be a noun—"That was an amazing experience!"—or a verb—"She experienced a lot of hardship." Think of it like this: you don't just learn to swim, you experience swimming!
The word "experience" refers to the process of encountering something and gaining knowledge or skill from it. It's more than just observation; it involves active participation and personal involvement. For example, the phrase "Traveling gave her new experiences" means she gained new perspectives through her journeys.
As a noun, experience represents an event or occurrence that leaves an impression on someone. "The concert was an unforgettable experience" suggests the event had a significant impact. It can also refer to the accumulated knowledge and skills one gains over time, such as in the sentence, "She has years of experience in marketing."
As a verb, "to experience" means to undergo something, feel it, or live through it. "They experienced severe weather during their camping trip." This implies they didn't just hear about bad weather; they felt the wind and rain firsthand.
Context is key! "Customer experience" refers to how a customer feels when interacting with a business. "Virtual reality experiences" aim to simulate real-life situations. And sometimes, the word is used in its adjective form—"an experienced chef" describes someone who has gained deep knowledge through years of practice.
Ultimately, experience isn't just about what happens to you; it's about how those events shape your understanding of the world and yourself. It's the raw material from which memories are made and wisdom is earned.
Examples
- 1
Teaching
She has a lot of experience teaching young children.
- 2
Software
Do you have any experience with this kind of software?
- Patternexperience with + thing
having used or dealt with that thing
- 3
Sales
He doesn't have much experience in sales.
- Patternexperience in + field/activity
knowledge and skill in that field or activity
- 4
Working abroad
Working abroad was a valuable experience.
- Grammara/an experience
a particular event or period in your life
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Living alone
It was my first experience of living alone.
- Patternexperience of + activity/situation
direct personal experience of it
- 6
Practical advice
From experience, it's better to arrive early.
- Phrasefrom experience
based on what you have learned in real life
- 7
Student stress
Many students experience stress before exams.
- 8
Town events
The town experienced serious flooding last winter.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- know-how
- background
- seasoning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- gain experience
- hands-on experience
- years of experience
- prior experience
Word family
- experienced
- inexperienced
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- experiencenounverb
Forms
- experiencedpast tenseverbnoun
- experiencespluralnounverb
- experiencing-ing formverbnoun