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
Noun
Sprouts of Hope: Despite a gloomy media landscape, a handful of digital start-ups are finding success — so far, at least — by learning lessons from their troubled predecessors. Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 In the end, neither exactly seems worthy of Sophie, but then the lesson here is that there was never really a contest. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 Because swimming lessons aren’t recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) until at least age 1, most manufacturers design swimming goggles for children ages 3 and up. Ambrosia V. Brody, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 While appearing on Live with Kelly and Mark with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on March 14, the Masked Singer panelist, 51, reflected on her Academy Awards debut in 1997, which came with a major lesson in dressing in designer. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 If the system is biased and scary, how does a parent juggle learning lessons with keeping a child safe? Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The biggest lesson in the health benefits of mindfulness came at mealtimes. Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Mar. 2024 Participants can take Irish dance lessons, play games to win prizes and enjoy food and drink specials at participating restaurants. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 There are trails for every skill level, including the 3.7-mile Nansen green trail, plus convenient rentals and lessons for all ages. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
Nearing 80-years-old and urged by his wife Grete (Lena Olin) to reduce some of his store of papers, Winton, who never told his family about his role in saving so many refugees, wonders what lessons the scrapbook documenting his work might offer to a wider public. Alissa Simon, Variety, 11 Sep. 2023 Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson — who was director of the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department until the end of February — announced Thursday that Milwaukee's new order will lesson restrictions at museums, sporting events, bars and restaurants. Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2021 Wray did not explain how the FBI deduced a connection between Chinese efforts to lesson the effects of sanctions and any potential planning for an invasion of Taiwan. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 6 July 2022 Democrats are battling among themselves over how, and whether, to lesson some of these curbs. Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022 Oregon tried to lesson the load on Verdell the past few springs, with last year’s practices cut short before full contact any way. oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2021 Regents were deciding whether to drop four men’s sports -- indoor and outdoor track, gymnastics and tennis -- as part of the athletic department’s attempt to lesson the financial blow caused by the coronavirus pandemic. oregonlive, 10 Oct. 2020 The Pac-12′s daily, rapid-response testing will lesson the risk of those kind of outbreaks within a team. oregonlive, 19 Sep. 2020 In theory, the Pac-12′s greater resources and capability for frequent and rapid testing should lesson the risk. oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lesson.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near lesson

Cite this Entry

“Lesson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lesson. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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