experience

Everyday

1. Experience is knowledge or skill you get by doing or seeing things over time. tree →
2. An experience is something that happens to you, especially something that leaves a strong feeling. tree →
3. To experience something is to have it happen to you or to feel it. tree →

In the lessons

In science, we learn from experience and experiments; in writing lessons, children write about a personal experience. In everyday life, job adverts ask for experience. Phrases: «from experience», «a good experience», «an amazing experience», «learn by experience», «life experience».

Examples

• I know from experience that the bus is often late. tree →
• Visiting the zoo was a great experience. tree →
• She has a lot of experience with dogs. tree →
• Write about an experience that made you proud. tree →
• Many animals experience fear during storms. tree →
• Camping in the rain was a new experience for us. tree →
• He gained experience by helping at the shop. tree →
• He had had experience with such birds before. tree →

Note

Uncountable when it means knowledge («a lot of experience», «no experience»), countable when it means an event («two strange experiences»). Adjective: «experienced» (skilled). Not to be confused with «experiment» (a scientific test). Not a number word.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Commentators read Solomon's words as the wisdom of a king who tested all things, yet still found that wisdom alone is not enough. In the primary lessons: In science, we learn from experience and experiments; in writing lessons, children write about a personal experience. In everyday life, job adverts ask for experience. Phrases: «from experience», «a good experience», «an amazing experience», «learn by experience», «life experience».

Examples

• I spoke with my own heart, saying: 'Lo, I have gotten great wisdom, more also than all that were before me over Jerusalem'; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. (Writings ECC.1.16, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable when it means knowledge («a lot of experience», «no experience»), countable when it means an event («two strange experiences»). Adjective: «experienced» (skilled). Not to be confused with «experiment» (a scientific test). Not a number word.