15 Synonyms for Learn New Things: Practical Learning Examples

Synonyms for “learn new things” include phrases that describe gaining knowledge, expanding understanding, or picking up fresh skills. These expressions often appear in educational, personal growth, or career development contexts. Options like pick up knowledge, expand your understanding, and develop new skills reflect different ways of acquiring information.

To fit informal or formal tones, expressions such as absorb information, gain insight, and explore new concepts offer useful alternatives. These choices help describe curiosity and improvement—whether you’re studying, training on the job, or trying something unfamiliar.

Definition: “Learn New Things”

The phrase “learn new things” broadly refers to the process of acquiring new information, skills, or understanding. It encompasses a wide range of activities, from formal education to informal self-study, and can involve anything from memorizing facts to developing complex problem-solving abilities.

At its core, it signifies the expansion of one’s knowledge base and capabilities through experience, study, or instruction. The phrase is versatile and commonly used in everyday language due to its simple and direct nature.

The phrase is straightforward and generally applicable to any situation where new knowledge or skills are being acquired. It is not limited to a specific context or level of formality, making it a widely understood and accepted expression.

Classification: Verbal phrase

Function: To describe the act of gaining new knowledge, skills, or understanding.

Contexts: Education, personal development, professional training, self-improvement, hobbies, and general life experiences.

Structural Breakdown

The phrase “learn new things” is composed of three key elements, each contributing to its overall meaning:

1. Learn: This is the verb, indicating the action of acquiring knowledge or skill. It is the core of the phrase and signifies the active engagement in the process of learning.
2. New: This adjective modifies “things,” specifying that the knowledge or skills being acquired are novel or previously unknown to the learner. It emphasizes the element of discovery and the expansion of one’s existing understanding.
3. Things: This noun serves as a general placeholder for the specific knowledge, skills, or information being learned. It is intentionally vague, allowing the phrase to be applicable to a wide range of subjects and activities.

The structure is simple and follows a basic Subject-Verb-Object pattern (although “things” is technically the object of the verb “learn”). This simplicity contributes to its widespread use and easy comprehension.

Synonyms for Learn New Things

The English language offers a rich variety of synonyms for “learn new things,” each with its own subtle nuances and connotations. These synonyms can be categorized based on the specific aspect of learning they emphasize.

Here are some key categories:

Acquire Knowledge

This category focuses on the process of gaining information and facts. It emphasizes the accumulation of knowledge through study or experience.

Synonyms in this category often imply a more formal or structured approach to learning.

Gain Understanding

This category highlights the development of comprehension and insight. It goes beyond simply memorizing facts and emphasizes the ability to grasp concepts and make connections.

Synonyms in this category suggest a deeper level of learning and cognitive processing.

Develop Skills

This category emphasizes the acquisition of practical abilities and competencies. It focuses on the process of improving one’s proficiency in a particular area.

Synonyms in this category are often used in the context of professional training or personal hobbies.

Become Acquainted With

This category refers to the process of familiarizing oneself with a new subject or topic. It suggests an initial exposure to something new and the beginning of a learning journey.

Synonyms in this category often imply a more casual or exploratory approach to learning.

Master/Gain Expertise

This category focuses on achieving a high level of proficiency in a particular field or skill. It emphasizes the dedication and effort required to become an expert.

Synonyms in this category are often used in the context of professional development or advanced studies.

Explore and Discover

This category highlights the process of actively seeking out new information and experiences. It emphasizes the element of curiosity and the joy of finding something new.

Synonyms in this category often imply a more adventurous or self-directed approach to learning.

Examples

To illustrate the diverse ways in which you can express the concept of “learn new things,” here are examples categorized by the types discussed above.

Examples: Acquire Knowledge

This table showcases various ways to express acquiring knowledge, focusing on the act of gaining information and facts. Each example demonstrates how to use different phrases in context.

Synonym	Example Sentence
Gain knowledge	She hopes to gain knowledge in the field of astrophysics by attending the conference.
Obtain information	The journalist worked hard to obtain information about the new policy.
Accumulate data	Scientists accumulate data through experiments and observations.
Gather intelligence	The spy was tasked with gathering intelligence on the enemy’s movements.
Collect facts	Researchers collect facts to support their hypotheses.
Compile evidence	The lawyer worked diligently to compile evidence for the case.
Amass information	Historians amass information from various sources to reconstruct the past.
Glean insights	By reading extensively, she began to glean insights into human behavior.
Procure details	The detective needed to procure details about the suspect’s whereabouts.
Assimilate data	The software helps users assimilate data quickly and efficiently.
Imbibe wisdom	He traveled the world to imbibe wisdom from different cultures.
Absorb information	Students need to absorb information during lectures.
Grasp the fundamentals	Before moving on, it’s important to grasp the fundamentals of mathematics.
Learn the ropes	New employees must learn the ropes of the company’s operations.
Pick up facts	She picked up facts about the city from her tour guide.
Study up on	I need to study up on the history of the Renaissance before the exam.
Research thoroughly	The team needs to research thoroughly before presenting their findings.
Delve into	He decided to delve into the mysteries of quantum physics.
Investigate deeply	The journalist decided to investigate deeply into the corruption scandal.
Examine meticulously	The scientist had to examine meticulously the samples under the microscope.
Sift through	The librarian has to sift through countless documents to find the necessary data.
Dig into	The archeologist wanted to dig into the ancient ruins to uncover its history.
Probe deeply	The interviewer wanted to probe deeply into the candidate’s past experiences.

Examples: Gain Understanding

This table provides examples of how to express gaining understanding, emphasizing comprehension and insight beyond simple memorization. Each example demonstrates the use of different phrases in context.

Synonym	Example Sentence
Develop an understanding	Through her experiences, she developed an understanding of different cultures.
Comprehend concepts	Students need to comprehend concepts to succeed in their studies.
Grasp the meaning	It took him a while to grasp the meaning of the abstract painting.
Appreciate the significance	She began to appreciate the significance of his contributions to the field.
Discern patterns	Analysts use data to discern patterns in consumer behavior.
Perceive nuances	An experienced reader can perceive nuances in the author’s writing.
Fathom complexities	Scientists try to fathom complexities of the universe.
Grok	Once you grok the basics, the rest will fall into place.
Get the hang of	It took me a while to get the hang of coding.
Figure out	I need to figure out how this machine works.
Make sense of	She tried to make sense of the confusing instructions.
Decipher	The archaeologist tried to decipher the ancient hieroglyphs.
Unravel	The detective worked to unravel the mystery.
Get to the bottom of	I want to get to the bottom of this issue.
Understand thoroughly	The professor wanted his students to understand thoroughly the subject matter.
Realize	She began to realize the importance of her actions.
See the light	After much debate, he finally saw the light and changed his mind.
Become aware of	She became aware of the environmental issues facing the planet.
Ascertain	The detective tried to ascertain the truth of the matter.
Get a handle on	He was trying to get a handle on the new software.
Formulate an idea	The scientist worked to formulate an idea based on his experiments.
Draw conclusions	The jury had to draw conclusions based on the evidence presented.
Put two and two together	Once she saw the clues, she was able to put two and two together.

Examples: Develop Skills

This table illustrates different ways to express developing skills, emphasizing the acquisition of practical abilities and competencies. Each example provides context for using these synonyms.

Synonym	Example Sentence
Cultivate skills	She took courses to cultivate skills in graphic design.
Hone abilities	Practice helps athletes hone abilities in their respective sports.
Refine techniques	Chefs constantly refine techniques to improve their culinary skills.
Enhance capabilities	The company invested in training to enhance capabilities of its employees.
Improve proficiency	Regular practice is essential to improve proficiency in a foreign language.
Gain expertise	Years of experience helped him gain expertise in his field.
Master techniques	She spent years mastering techniques in classical painting.
Pick up skills	He picked up skills in carpentry by watching his father.
Become adept at	She became adept at playing the piano through diligent practice.
Train in	He decided to train in martial arts for self-defense.
Acquire know-how	The workshop provided participants with the opportunity to acquire know-how in the field of robotics.
Polish skills	The internship helped him polish skills in communication and teamwork.
Sharpen skills	Regular practice helps sharpen skills in problem-solving.
Get the knack of	Once you get the knack of it, coding becomes easier.
Build up expertise	She worked diligently to build up expertise in data analysis.
Develop talents	The art school helped students develop talents in various artistic disciplines.
Become proficient in	She became proficient in several programming languages.
Excel at	He aimed to excel at his chosen profession.
Become skilled at	Through consistent effort, she became skilled at public speaking.
Perfect skills	He worked to perfect skills in playing the guitar.
Become good at	She wanted to become good at playing chess.
Hone craftsmanship	The carpenter wanted to hone craftsmanship by practicing traditional techniques.
Get better at	He practiced every day to get better at playing basketball.

Examples: Become Acquainted With

This table provides examples of how to express becoming acquainted with something new, emphasizing initial exposure and familiarization. Each example provides context for using these synonyms.

Synonym	Example Sentence
Familiarize oneself with	New employees need to familiarize oneself with the company’s policies.
Get to know	She wanted to get to know the local culture during her travels.
Become aware of	He became aware of the environmental issues facing the planet.
Discover	Tourists discover hidden gems while exploring new cities.
Encounter	During his studies, he encountered new theories that challenged his beliefs.
Experience	She wanted to experience different cultures by traveling the world.
Be introduced to	He was introduced to classical music by his grandfather.
Learn about	She wanted to learn about the history of the region.
Find out about	I need to find out about the details of the upcoming event.
Be exposed to	Children should be exposed to different types of art and music.
Get a feel for	She wanted to get a feel for the local community before moving there.
Get acquainted with	New students need to get acquainted with the campus facilities.
Open your eyes to	Traveling can open your eyes to different ways of life.
Get clued in on	He asked his friend to get clued in on the latest trends.
Dip your toes into	She decided to dip her toes into the world of coding.
Make the acquaintance of	He wanted to make the acquaintance of some local artists.
Come across	While reading, she came across an interesting fact.
Run into	He ran into a new idea while brainstorming.
Stumble upon	They stumbled upon a hidden beach during their hike.
Get wise to	He was starting to get wise to the company’s tactics.
Grasp initially	It is important to grasp initially the overall concept before diving into details.
Get the drift of	Even though it was a complex topic, she began to get the drift of it.
Get the lowdown on	Before investing, he wanted to get the lowdown on the company’s financials.

Examples: Master/Gain Expertise

This table provides examples of how to express mastering or gaining expertise, emphasizing a high level of proficiency and dedication. Each example provides context for using these synonyms.

Synonym	Example Sentence
Achieve mastery	He dedicated his life to achieving mastery in his chosen art form.
Become an expert	She became an expert in her field through years of study and research.
Gain proficiency	Regular practice is essential to gain proficiency in a musical instrument.
Develop expertise	The company invested in training to develop expertise among its employees.
Excel in	He aimed to excel in his chosen profession through hard work and dedication.
Acquire prowess	She acquired prowess in martial arts through years of training.
Attain competence	The program helps students attain competence in various technical skills.
Reach a high level of skill	She worked hard to reach a high level of skill in her craft.
Perfect your craft	He dedicated his life to perfect your craft as a sculptor.
Become a virtuoso	He aspired to become a virtuoso on the violin.
Become a maven	She became a maven in the world of fashion.
Get on top of	He worked hard to get on top of his game.
Get the upper hand	She wanted to get the upper hand in the competition.
Grasp completely	It is important to grasp completely the intricacies of the subject.
Become well-versed in	She became well-versed in the history of art.
Become accomplished in	He became accomplished in playing the piano.
Get a grip on	She wanted to get a grip on the new technology.
Be second to none	He strived to be second to none in his field.
Stand out in	She worked hard to stand out in her profession.
Become a connoisseur of	He became a connoisseur of fine wines.
Get the hang of it completely	After a lot of practice, he finally got the hang of it completely.
Have down pat	She had down pat all the steps in the dance routine.
Know inside and out	He knew inside and out the workings of the machine.

Examples: Explore and Discover

This table illustrates different ways to express exploring and discovering, emphasizing active seeking of new information and experiences. Each example provides context for using these synonyms.

Synonym	Example Sentence
Investigate	Scientists investigate the mysteries of the universe.
Delve into	She decided to delve into the history of ancient civilizations.
Uncover	Archaeologists uncover artifacts from past eras.
Scout	He decided to scout the new territory for resources.
Prospect	The company decided to prospect for new opportunities in emerging markets.
Research	She needs to research the topic thoroughly before writing the essay.
Look into	I need to look into the details of the new project.
Probe	The detective decided to probe the suspect’s background.
Examine	The doctor had to examine the patient’s symptoms carefully.
Inspect	The engineer needed to inspect the bridge for any structural damage.
Inquire into	The committee decided to inquire into the allegations.
Search for	He decided to search for new opportunities in the job market.
Seek out	She wanted to seek out new experiences during her travels.
Dig up	The journalist tried to dig up information about the scandal.
Track down	He needed to track down the source of the rumor.
Root out	The government wanted to root out corruption in the system.
Unearth	The archaeologist hoped to unearth ancient artifacts.
Go in search of	She decided to go in search of adventure.
Range over	He decided to range over the forest to explore its depths.
Quest after	She decided to quest after knowledge and wisdom.
Thrust into	He was thrust into an unfamiliar situation.
Go adventuring	They decided to go adventuring in the mountains.
Take a deep dive into	She decided to take a deep dive into the subject of quantum physics.

Usage Rules

While many of these synonyms can be used interchangeably, it’s important to consider the context and desired tone when making your selection. Here are some general guidelines:

• Formality: Some synonyms, such as “acquire knowledge” and “develop expertise,” are more formal and appropriate for academic or professional settings. Others, such as “pick up skills” and “get the hang of,” are more informal and suitable for casual conversations.
• Specificity: Choose a synonym that accurately reflects the type of learning taking place. For example, “develop skills” is more appropriate when referring to the acquisition of practical abilities, while “gain understanding” is better suited for referring to the development of comprehension.
• Emphasis: Consider the specific aspect of learning you want to emphasize. If you want to highlight the accumulation of information, use synonyms like “gain knowledge” or “obtain information.” If you want to emphasize the process of discovery, use synonyms like “explore” or “discover.”
• Audience: Tailor your language to your audience. If you are writing for a general audience, use more common and easily understood synonyms. If you are writing for a specialized audience, you can use more technical or nuanced terms.

Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using synonyms for “learn new things”:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
She gained a knowledge about cooking.	She gained knowledge about cooking.	“Knowledge” is an uncountable noun and does not take the indefinite article “a” in this context.
He developed an understand of the subject.	He developed an understanding of the subject.	“Understanding” should be used as an uncountable noun in this context, or rephrased.
I am acquiring skills on playing the guitar.	I am acquiring skills in playing the guitar.	The correct preposition to use with “skills” in this context is “in,” not “on.”
She became acquaint to the new software.	She became acquainted with the new software.	The correct form of the verb is “acquainted,” and the correct preposition is “with.”
He mastered to play the piano.	He mastered playing the piano. / He mastered how to play the piano.	“Master” is a transitive verb and should be followed by a noun or gerund (verb + -ing).
I am exploring of new cultures.	I am exploring new cultures.	“Explore” is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition “of” in this context.
She is gaining expertise at the science.	She is gaining expertise in science.	“In” is the correct preposition here.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of synonyms for “learn new things” with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate synonym for “learn new things” from the list provided. Choose from: acquire, develop, explore, gain, master, become acquainted with.

Question	Answer
1. She wants to __________ her skills in public speaking.	develop
2. He hopes to __________ knowledge in the field of medicine.	gain
3. They decided to __________ the local culture during their travels.	explore
4. New employees need to __________ the company’s policies.	become acquainted with
5. She is determined to __________ the art of calligraphy.	master
6. Scientists __________ data through experiments.	acquire
7. The company invests in training to __________ expertise among its employees.	develop
8. He wanted to __________ the significance of the historical event.	gain
9. Tourists __________ hidden gems while exploring new cities.	explore
10. New students need to __________ the campus facilities.	become acquainted with

Exercise 2: Synonym Replacement

Rewrite the following sentences, replacing the underlined phrase with a synonym that maintains the original meaning as closely as possible.

Question	Answer
1. She is working hard to learn new things about computer programming.	She is working hard to acquire knowledge about computer programming.
2. He wants to learn new things about different cultures.	He wants to become acquainted with different cultures.
3. She is trying to learn new things in the art of cooking.	She is trying to develop skills in the art of cooking.
4. They are hoping to learn new things about the universe.	They are hoping to explore the universe.
5. He is determined to learn new things in the field of medicine.	He is determined to gain expertise in the field of medicine.
6. The detective is trying to learn new things about the crime.	The detective is trying to uncover details about the crime.
7. The student wants to learn new things about the subject matter.	The student wants to comprehend the subject matter.
8. The artist is seeking to learn new things about different techniques.	The artist is seeking to master different techniques.
9. The traveler is eager to learn new things about the region’s history.	The traveler is eager to find out about the region’s history.
10. The researcher is trying to learn new things about the causes of the disease.	The researcher is trying to investigate the causes of the disease.

Exercise 3: Sentence Construction

Create a sentence using each of the following synonyms for “learn new things.”

Synonym	Example Sentence
Gain insight	Through her travels, she hopes to gain insight into different cultures.
Develop competence	The training program is designed to help employees develop competence in their roles.
Acquire proficiency	He practiced daily to acquire proficiency in playing the piano.
Grasp the fundamentals	Before moving on to advanced topics, it’s important to grasp the fundamentals.
Become well-versed	She studied diligently to become well-versed in the subject.
Master the art	He spent years trying to master the art of calligraphy.
Explore the possibilities	Entrepreneurs explore the possibilities of new markets and technologies.
Discover new horizons	Traveling allows you to discover new horizons and broaden your perspective.
Unearth knowledge	Researchers strive to unearth knowledge through rigorous investigation.
Get the hang of it	It took a few tries, but eventually, she got the hang of it.

Advanced Topics

For those seeking a deeper understanding of learning and knowledge acquisition, consider exploring these related topics:

• Epistemology: The study of knowledge and justified belief.
• Cognitive Psychology: The study of mental processes such as attention, memory, and problem-solving.
• Andragogy: The study of adult learning.
• Pedagogy: The art and science of teaching.
• Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

FAQ

Conclusion

Expanding your vocabulary with synonyms for “learn new things” empowers you to communicate more effectively and expressively. By understanding the nuances of each synonym, you can choose the most appropriate word or phrase for any given context, making your writing and speech more impactful and engaging.

Embrace the joy of learning and continue to explore the rich tapestry of the English language.