Meaning & use
relearning
Last updated
“relearning” is a form of “relearn”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountable
The process of learning something again, usually after forgetting it or after changing how it is done.
Grammar: Uncountable noun: relearning takes time.
Patterns
- relearning of something
- relearning how to do something
After her injury, she faced months of relearning how to walk.
Relearning a language is easier than starting from scratch.
The retraining program involves a lot of unlearning and relearning.
verbtransitive
Present participle of relearn: learning something again.
Grammar: As -ing form takes an object: relearning the piano pieces.
Patterns
- relearning something
- relearning how to do something
He is relearning French before his trip.
She spent the summer relearning her old coding skills.
Word forms
| base form | relearn |
|---|---|
| past tense | relearned / relearnt |
| third person singular | relearns |
Common combinations
- relearning how to
- He is relearning how to cook after years of takeout.
- relearning process
- The relearning process was slow but steady.
- unlearning and relearning
- Change often requires unlearning and relearning.
- relearning a skill
- Relearning a skill is quicker the second time.
- relearning after injury
- Relearning after injury needs patience.
Synonyms and how they differ
- retraining
- Retraining usually means learning new skills for work, whereas relearning means going over something already known.
- reviewing
- Reviewing means going over material briefly, which is lighter than relearning.
- rediscovering
- Rediscovering suggests finding something again with pleasure, not the effort of study.
- refreshing
- Refreshing a skill means a light update, while relearning means significant new effort.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: relearning or relearning?
relearning vs relearning
Do not confuse with 'unlearning', which means to get rid of a belief or habit, not to learn again.
Practice
After ten years away from the piano, Sam spent the winter ____ his old pieces.
Choose one answer.
Relearning means learning again, which fits returning to old pieces. Unlearning means getting rid of knowledge and forgetting is the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “relearning”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.