Confusable words

learn vs study: what's the difference?

learn
verb
vs
study
verb
? ?

Learn and study both relate to getting knowledge, but one is the result and the other is the process.

Learn

verb

Learn means gaining knowledge or a skill, often as a result.

  • I learned to ride a bike when I was six.
  • She learned a lot from that book.

Study

verb

Study means the act of working to gain that knowledge, often over time.

  • He studies every night before the exam.
  • She's studying medicine at university.

Side by side

learn study
Type A result, something you gain A process, an activity
Can happen instantly? Yes, you can learn a fact in a second No, studying takes time and effort
Simple test "I learned that" means I now know it "I studied that" means I spent time working on it

Quick rule

Study is the process of working to gain knowledge. Learn is the result, actually gaining it. You can study for hours without learning much.

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