A1 noun Neutral #4,800 most common

lesson

/ˈles.ən/

A lesson is a specific period of time during which a person is taught a particular skill or subject by a teacher. It can also refer to an important piece of information or a moral principle learned through experience.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I have a piano lesson every Monday afternoon.

I have a piano class every Monday afternoon.

2

The professor delivered a comprehensive lesson on renewable energy.

The professor gave a detailed teaching session about green energy.

3

That was a hard lesson to learn, but I won't do it again.

That was a difficult experience to learn from, but I will not repeat the mistake.

Word Family

Noun
lesson
Related
schooling
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Memory Tip

Think of the word 'LESS-on'. A good lesson helps you make 'LESS' mistakes as you go 'on' with your life.

Quick Quiz

I need to go home now because I have a guitar ___ at 5 PM.

Correct!

The correct answer is: lesson

Examples

1

I have a piano lesson every Monday afternoon.

everyday

I have a piano class every Monday afternoon.

2

The professor delivered a comprehensive lesson on renewable energy.

formal

The professor gave a detailed teaching session about green energy.

3

That was a hard lesson to learn, but I won't do it again.

informal

That was a difficult experience to learn from, but I will not repeat the mistake.

4

Students must attend every lesson to pass the final exam.

academic

Students need to go to every class session to succeed in the test.

5

We can take a lesson from our competitors' success in the market.

business

We can learn a strategy from the success of other companies.

Word Family

Noun
lesson
Related
schooling

Common Collocations

have a lesson to participate in a class
take a lesson to receive instruction in something
give a lesson to teach a class
private lesson one-on-one teaching
history lesson a class session about the past

Common Phrases

learn a lesson

to learn from a past mistake

teach someone a lesson

to punish someone so they don't do something again

life lesson

an important experience that changes your perspective

Often Confused With

lesson vs course

A course is a series of many lessons over a long time, while a lesson is a single session.

lesson vs class

Class often refers to the group of students, whereas lesson refers to the content or the time spent teaching.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'lesson' when talking about the specific content being taught or the time block of the teaching. It is frequently used with the verbs 'have' (for students) and 'give' (for teachers).

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often say 'make a lesson' when they mean 'have a lesson' or 'attend a lesson'. Also, do not confuse 'lesson' with 'lessen' (which means to make something smaller).

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'LESS-on'. A good lesson helps you make 'LESS' mistakes as you go 'on' with your life.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French 'leçon', which comes from the Latin 'lectio', meaning 'a reading'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun: one lesson, two lessons Commonly follows the pattern: lesson on [topic] Commonly follows the pattern: lesson in [skill]
🌍

Cultural Context

In many English-speaking countries, 'private lessons' for music or sports are a very common after-school activity for children.

Quick Quiz

I need to go home now because I have a guitar ___ at 5 PM.

Correct!

The correct answer is: lesson

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A university is a high-level educational institution where students study for degrees and conduct academic research. It is a place people go after finishing secondary school to specialize in a specific subject.

classroom

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A classroom is a dedicated room in a school or college where students and teachers meet for lessons. It typically contains desks, chairs, and tools for learning like a whiteboard or computer.

science

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Literature refers to written works such as novels, plays, and poems that are considered to be very good or important. It can also refer to printed information about a particular subject or business.

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economics

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notebook

A1

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A1

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A1

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