lesson
LEHS-uhn
Lesson (noun) means a single period of teaching, or a fixed unit within a course of study. Example: “Today's lesson covers the causes of the First World War.”
noun
1
A single period of teaching, or a fixed unit within a course of study.
"Today's lesson covers the causes of the First World War."
"She takes piano lessons every Tuesday afternoon."
"The maths lesson lasted forty minutes, and the class finished all the questions."
2
Something learned from experience, especially through difficulty or failure.
"Losing the contract taught him a valuable lesson about double-checking his figures."
"Missing the last train was a lesson in always checking the timetable."
"The team learned a hard lesson about preparing properly when they lost the final."
How to use lesson
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA period of teaching, or something you learn from what happens to you.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
learn a lesson
teach someone a lesson
take lessons
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Word forms
- Plural
- lessons
- Third person singular
- lessons
- Past tense
- lessoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Today's _____ covers the causes of the First World War.
Etymology
From Old French leçon, from Latin lectio, "a reading," from legere, "to read."
Related words
Rhymes for lesson
See all rhymes for lesson →Frequently asked questions
What does “lesson” mean?
The word “lesson” means a single period of teaching, or a fixed unit within a course of study. In plain terms, a period of teaching, or something you learn from what happens to you.
How do you pronounce “lesson”?
“Lesson” is pronounced LEHS-uhn (/ˈlɛs.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “lesson” in a sentence?
Here is “lesson” used in a sentence: “Today's lesson covers the causes of the First World War.”
What is another word for “lesson”?
Words with a similar meaning to “lesson” include lear.
What part of speech is “lesson”?
“Lesson” is a noun.
Where does the word “lesson” come from?
The word “lesson” comes from Latin. From Old French leçon, from Latin lectio, "a reading," from legere, "to read.".
Is “lesson” a common word?
“Lesson” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “lesson” have?
“Lesson” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a single period of teaching, or a fixed unit within a course of study.
What is the difference between lesson and lessen?
They sound the same but differ in meaning and spelling. A lesson is a noun: a period of teaching or a unit of study, like a piano lesson. Lessen is a verb meaning to reduce or make smaller, as in 'painkillers lessen the pain.' If you mean teaching, use lesson.
What is an example of a lesson?
A lesson is a single session of teaching or a unit within a course. Examples include a maths lesson at school, a private guitar lesson, or a driving lesson. The word also has a figurative sense — 'a hard lesson' or 'let that be a lesson' — meaning something learned from experience.
What is the difference between a lesson and a class?
A lesson is a single session of teaching or a defined unit of study, focused on the content covered. A class can mean the same scheduled session, but it also refers to the group of students being taught. So 'the class' can be the people, while 'the lesson' is the teaching itself.
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