Etimology
From Middle English experience, from Old French, from Latin experientia (“a trial, proof, experiment, experimental knowledge, experience”), from experiens, present participle of experiri (“to try, put to the test, undertake, undergo”), from ex (“out”) + peritus (“experienced, expert”), past participle of *periri (“to go through”); see expert and peril. Displaced native Old English āfandung (“experience”) and āfandian (“to experience”).
noun
experience (countable and uncountable, plural experiences)
The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering.
(countable) An activity one has performed.
(countable) A collection of events and/or activities from which an individual or group may gather knowledge, opinions, and skills.
(uncountable) The knowledge thus gathered.
(obsolete, uncountable) Trial; a test or experiment.
Examples
It was an experience he would not soon forget.
Those that undertook the religion of our Savior upon his preaching, had no experience of it.
“I have tried, as I hinted, to enlist the co-operation of other capitalists, but experience has taught me that any appeal is futile that does not impinge directly upon cupidity. […] ”
they knew soone by experience how slenderly guarded against danger, the majestie of Rulers is
Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer in one word, from experience.
In his submission to the UN, [Christof] Heyns points to the experience of drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles were intended initially only for surveillance, and their use for offensive purposes was prohibited, yet once strategists realised their perceived advantages as a means of carrying out targeted killings, all objections were swept out of the way.
She caused him to make experience / Vpon wyld beasts, which she in woods did find, / With wrongfull powre oppressing others of their kind
Related words
antonyms
inexperience
hyponyms
(activity one has performed): user experience
verb
experience (third-person singular simple present experiences, present participle experiencing, simple past and past participle experienced)
(transitive) To observe certain events; undergo a certain feeling or process; or perform certain actions that may alter one or contribute to one's knowledge, opinions, or skills.
Related words
synonyms
undergo