lesson

1 of 2

noun

les·​son ˈle-sᵊn How to pronounce lesson (audio)
1
: a passage from sacred writings read in a service of worship
2
a
: a piece of instruction
b
: a reading or exercise to be studied by a pupil
c
: a division of a course of instruction
3
a
: something learned by study or experience
his years of travel had taught him valuable lessons
b
: an instructive example
the lessons of history
c

lesson

2 of 2

verb

lessoned; lessoning ˈle-sə-niŋ How to pronounce lesson (audio)
ˈles-niŋ

transitive verb

1
: to give a lesson to : instruct
2

Examples of lesson in a Sentence

Noun You can't go out to play until you've finished your lessons. The book is divided into 12 lessons. She took piano lessons for years. political leaders who have failed to learn the lessons of history I've learned my lesson—I'll never do that again! Let that be a lesson to you—if you don't take better care of your toys they'll get broken! Verb would tirelessly lesson the children in proper manners
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
To use these in a physical binder or electric site, create tabs for project and customer information, lessons learned, and concerns. Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 If there’s one lesson that Elson most wants to impress upon her daughter? Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
Most people learn that lesson the hard way somewhere in their teens or 20s. Tom Roland, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2025 Ryan Seacrest learned that lesson the hard way Tuesday when an overeager guest accidentally tackled him to the ground. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lesson

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French leçon, from Late Latin lection-, lectio, from Latin, act of reading, from legere to read — more at legend

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lesson was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lesson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lesson. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

lesson

noun
les·​son
ˈles-ᵊn
1
: a part of the Scripture read in a church service
2
a
: a reading or exercise assigned to be studied
b
: something learned by study or experience

More from Merriam-Webster on lesson

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