A lesson is a fixed period of time when people are taught about a particular subject or taught how to do something.
It would be his last French lesson for months.
Johanna took piano lessons.
Synonyms: class, schooling, period, teaching More Synonyms of lesson
2. countable noun [usually singular]
You use lesson to refer to an experience which acts as a warning to you or an example from which you should learn.
I had learned a very important lesson: adults must take responsibility for theirown fate.
See to teach someone a lesson
3. countable noun [usually singular]
In a church service, the lesson is a short piece of text which is read aloud from the bible.
The Rev. Nicola Judd read the lesson.
Synonyms: Bible reading, reading, text, Bible passage More Synonyms of lesson
More Synonyms of lesson
lesson in British English
(ˈlɛsən)
noun
1.
a.
a unit, or single period of instruction in a subject; class
an hour-long music lesson
b.
the content of such a unit
2.
material assigned for individual study
3.
something from which useful knowledge or principles can be learned; example
4.
the principles, knowledge, etc, gained
5.
a reprimand or punishment intended to correct
6.
a portion of Scripture appointed to be read at divine service
verb
7. (transitive) rare
to censure or punish
Word origin
C13: from Old French leçon, from Latin lēctiō, from legere to read
lesson in American English
(ˈlɛsən)
noun
1.
something to be learned
; specif.,
a.
an exercise or assignment that a student is to prepare or learn within a given time; unit of instruction
b.
the instruction given during one class or instruction period
c.
something that needs to be learned (or the event through which it is learned) for the sake of one's safety, well-being, etc.
d. [pl.]
course of instruction
music lessons
2.
a selection, as of Scripture, forming part of a religious service; lection
3.
a rebuke; reproof
verb transitive Rare
4.
to give a lesson to
5.
to rebuke; reprove
Word origin
ME lessoun < OFr leçon < L lectio, a reading, hence text, lesson < pp. of legere, to read: see logic
COBUILD Collocations
lesson
hard lesson
harsh lesson
moral lesson
painful lesson
useful lesson
valuable lesson
Examples of 'lesson' in a sentence
lesson
What lessons does it offer to what appears to be a mortally sick party?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Plus maybe some old fella reading the lesson.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What is the most important lesson you have learnt about money?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was one of the lessons of my life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What was its most important lesson for the economy?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
What were the key lessons of that experience?
Computing (2010)
From the past week there was a lesson in why people react in different ways to similar stories.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So, a valuable lesson in the end.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She raised money as best she could through giving music lessons, but major sponsorship was needed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You would think we had learned our lesson about not borrowing too much.
The Sun (2016)
What is the most important lesson you have learnt about money?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You can learn valuable lessons from unpleasant people too.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That lesson has been read as an encouraging one.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
The share price performance is an object lesson on what happens when a star performer disappoints.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The question now is whether the lessons of that period have been learnt.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What lessons does their experience hold for the rest of the world?
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
You may study it all your life and draw one lesson after another in physics from it.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Their top tips offer valuable lessons for more modest punters.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The frustration of this period taught me an important lesson.
Christianity Today (2000)
His team found a gulf in the quality and quantity of music lessons.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your daughter needs more lessons in sharing and being gentle.
Pearce, Dr John Families and Friends - how to help your child form happy relationships. (1989)
It will be a hard lesson to teach.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He sang with a band and often spent part of his maths lessons talking about music.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We need to learn lessons and we must understand the consumer much better.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This is a lesson for people not to experiment with drugs.
The Sun (2012)
The lessons of that period still apply.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One of our biases is that we can ignore the lessons of experience.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We decided to forgo our English lesson for a night and entertain our friends.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
Teachers are able to spend more time on teaching and less time is wasted dealing with poor behaviour during the hour-long lessons.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So I have an hour-long lesson and it is quite easy to get back into that school mentality.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A TEENAGE learner driver was fined for speeding on a driving lesson with her instructor.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
lesson
British English: lesson /ˈlɛsn/ NOUN
A lesson is a fixed period of time during which people are taught something.
She took piano lessons.
American English: lesson
Arabic: دَرْسٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: lição
Chinese: 功课
Croatian: sat
Czech: lekce
Danish: time
Dutch: les
European Spanish: lección
Finnish: oppitunti
French: leçon
German: Unterrichtsstunde
Greek: μάθημα
Italian: lezione
Japanese: 授業
Korean: 수업
Norwegian: undervisningstime
Polish: lekcja
European Portuguese: lição
Romanian: lecție
Russian: урок
Latin American Spanish: lección
Swedish: lektion
Thai: บทเรียน
Turkish: ders sınıf
Ukrainian: урок
Vietnamese: bài học
All related terms of 'lesson'
hard lesson
You use lesson to refer to an experience which acts as a warning to you or an example from which you should learn.
lesson plan
a plan , used by teachers in a school , detailing the structure and format of lessons
life lesson
something from which useful knowledge or principles can be learned
ballet lesson
a class in which ballet is taught
harsh lesson
You use lesson to refer to an experience which acts as a warning to you or an example from which you should learn.
moral lesson
You use lesson to refer to an experience which acts as a warning to you or an example from which you should learn .
object lesson
If you describe an action, event , or situation as an object lesson , you think that it demonstrates the correct way to do something, or that it demonstrates the truth of a particular principle.
piano lesson
an occasion when someone teaches you to play the piano
useful lesson
You use lesson to refer to an experience which acts as a warning to you or an example from which you should learn.
driving lesson
a session involving driving practice and theory with a driving instructor
painful lesson
You use lesson to refer to an experience which acts as a warning to you or an example from which you should learn.
singing lesson
a period of instruction in how to sing
valuable lesson
You use lesson to refer to an experience which acts as a warning to you or an example from which you should learn.
read a lesson
to censure or reprimand , esp in a long-winded manner
to teach someone a lesson
If you say that you are going to teach someone a lesson , you mean that you are going to punish them for something that they have done so that they do not do it again.
read someone a lecture
to scold or reprimand someone
teach
If you teach someone something, you give them instructions so that they know about it or how to do it.
Chinese translation of 'lesson'
lesson
(ˈlɛsn)
n(c)
(= class) (in history, dancing etc) 课(課) (kè) (堂, táng)
(fig) 教训(訓) (jiàoxùn)
to teach sb a lesson (fig) 给(給)某人一个(個)教训(訓) (gěi mǒurén yī gè jiàoxùn)
1 (noun)
Definition
the content of such a period
She took piano lessons.
Synonyms
class
They put me into a remedial maths class.
schooling
the schooling of horses
period
a Biology period
teaching
coaching
session
an emergency session of parliament
instruction
Each candidate is given instruction in safety.
lecture
In his lecture he covered an enormous variety of topics.
seminar
Students are asked to prepare material in advance of each weekly seminar.
tutoring
tutorial
Methods of study include lectures, tutorials and practical work.
2 (noun)
Definition
an experience that serves as a warning or example
There is one lesson to be learned from this crisis.
Synonyms
example
We were punished as an example to others.
warning
I hope that your story acts as a warning to other people.
model
the Chinese model of economic reform
message
The report's message was unequivocal.
moral
The moral of the story is, let the buyer beware.
deterrent
precept
exemplar
They viewed their new building as an exemplar of taste.
3 (noun)
Definition
material assigned for individual study
Now let's look at lesson one.
Synonyms
exercise
Try working through the opening exercises in this chapter.
reading
practice
netball practice
task
He had the unenviable task of breaking the bad news.
lecture
drill
A local army base teaches them military drill.
assignment
The course involves written assignments and practical tests.
homework
recitation
The transmission began with a recitation from the Koran.
4 (noun)
Definition
a passage of Scripture read during a church service
The Rev. Nicola Judd read the lesson.
Synonyms
Bible reading
reading
a poetry reading
text
Bible passage
Scripture passage
5 (noun)
Synonyms
punishment
warning
He was given a severe warning from the referee.
censure
It is a controversial policy which has attracted international censure.
rebuke
`Silly little boy' was his favourite expression of rebuke.
reprimand
He has been given a severe reprimand.
scolding
He was given a scolding for offending his opponents.
chiding
admonition
She is full of admonitions about smoking now that she's given up.
reproof
a reproof that she responded to right away
Additional synonyms
in the sense of admonition
She is full of admonitions about smoking now that she's given up.
Synonyms
reprimand,
warning,
advice,
counsel,
caution,
rebuke,
reproach,
scolding,
berating,
chiding,
telling off (informal),
upbraiding,
reproof,
remonstrance (formal)
in the sense of assignment
Definition
something that has been assigned, such as a task
The course involves written assignments and practical tests.
Synonyms
task,
work,
job,
charge,
position,
post,
commission,
exercise,
responsibility,
duty,
mission,
appointment,
undertaking,
occupation,
chore
in the sense of censure
Definition
severe disapproval
It is a controversial policy which has attracted international censure.
Synonyms
disapproval,
criticism,
blame,
condemnation,
rebuke,
reprimand,
reproach,
dressing down (informal),
stick (slang),
stricture,
reproof,
sideswipe,
castigation,
obloquy,
remonstrance,
reprehension
Synonyms of 'lesson'
lesson
Explore 'lesson' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drill
Definition
strict and often repetitious training
A local army base teaches them military drill.
Synonyms
training,
exercise,
work-out,
discipline,
instruction,
preparation,
repetition,
square-bashing (informal)
in the sense of exemplar
Definition
a person or thing to be copied
They viewed their new building as an exemplar of taste.
Synonyms
model,
example,
standard,
ideal,
criterion,
paradigm,
epitome,
paragon
in the sense of instruction
Definition
the process or act of teaching
Each candidate is given instruction in safety.
Synonyms
teaching,
schooling,
training,
classes,
grounding,
education,
coaching,
lesson(s),
discipline,
preparation,
drilling,
guidance,
tutoring,
tuition,
enlightenment,
apprenticeship,
tutorials,
tutelage (formal)
in the sense of lecture
Definition
a talk on a particular subject delivered to an audience
In his lecture he covered an enormous variety of topics.
Synonyms
talk,
address,
speech,
lesson,
instruction,
presentation,
discourse,
sermon,
exposition,
harangue,
oration,
disquisition,
webinar
in the sense of message
Definition
an implicit meaning or moral, as in a work of art
The report's message was unequivocal.
Synonyms
point,
meaning,
idea,
moral,
theme,
import,
purport,
MSG
in the sense of model
Definition
an example or pattern that people might want to follow
the Chinese model of economic reform
Synonyms
pattern,
example,
design,
standard,
type,
original,
ideal,
mould,
norm,
gauge,
prototype,
paradigm,
archetype,
exemplar,
lodestar
in the sense of moral
Definition
a lesson about right or wrong behaviour that is shown in a fable or event
The moral of the story is, let the buyer beware.
Synonyms
lesson,
meaning,
point,
message,
teaching,
import,
significance,
precept
in the sense of period
Definition
a division of time at school, college, or university when a particular subject is taught
a Biology period
Synonyms
class,
session,
lesson
in the sense of practice
Definition
repetition of an activity in order to gain skill
netball practice
Synonyms
training,
study,
exercise,
work-out,
discipline,
preparation (old-fashioned),
drill,
rehearsal,
repetition
in the sense of reading
Definition
a public recital of a literary work
a poetry reading
Synonyms
recital,
performance,
rendering,
rendition,
lesson,
lecture,
sermon,
homily
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rebuke
Definition
a stern scolding
`Silly little boy' was his favourite expression of rebuke.
Synonyms
scolding,
censure,
reprimand,
reproach,
blame,
row,
lecture,
wigging (British, slang),
ticking-off (informal),
dressing-down (informal),
telling-off (informal),
admonition,
tongue-lashing,
reproof,
castigation,
reproval
in the sense of recitation
Definition
the act of reciting poetry or prose from memory
The transmission began with a recitation from the Koran.
Synonyms
recital,
reading,
performance,
piece,
passage,
lecture,
rendering,
narration,
telling
in the sense of reprimand
Definition
an instance of blaming someone officially
He has been given a severe reprimand.
Synonyms
blame,
talking-to (informal),
row,
lecture,
wigging (British, slang),
censure,
rebuke,
reproach,
ticking-off (informal),
dressing-down (informal),
telling-off (informal),
admonition,
tongue-lashing,
reproof,
castigation,
reprehension,
flea in your ear (informal)
in the sense of reproof
Definition
a severe blaming of someone for a fault
a reproof that she responded to right away
Synonyms
rebuke,
criticism,
condemnation,
censure,
reprimand,
reproach,
scolding,
ticking-off (informal),
chiding,
dressing-down (informal),
admonition,
tongue-lashing,
upbraiding,
sideswipe,
castigation,
reproval,
reprehension,
blame
in the sense of schooling
the schooling of horses
Synonyms
training,
coaching,
instruction,
grounding,
preparation,
drill,
guidance
in the sense of scolding
He was given a scolding for offending his opponents.
Synonyms
ticking-off,
row,
lecture,
wigging (British, slang),
rebuke,
dressing-down,
telling-off (informal),
tongue-lashing,
piece of your mind,
(good) talking-to (informal)
in the sense of seminar
Definition
one such meeting
Students are asked to prepare material in advance of each weekly seminar.
Synonyms
tutorial,
lesson,
workshop,
study group,
session
in the sense of session
Definition
a series or period of such meetings
an emergency session of parliament
Synonyms
meeting,
hearing,
sitting,
term,
period,
conference,
congress,
discussion,
assembly,
seminar,
get-together (informal)
in the sense of task
Definition
a specific piece of work required to be done
He had the unenviable task of breaking the bad news.
Synonyms
job,
duty,
assignment,
work,
business,
charge,
labour,
exercise,
mission,
employment,
enterprise,
undertaking,
occupation,
chore,
toil
in the sense of tutorial
Definition
a period of intensive tuition given by a tutor to an individual student or to a small group of students
Methods of study include lectures, tutorials and practical work.
Synonyms
seminar,
lesson,
individual instruction
Additional synonyms
in the sense of warning
I hope that your story acts as a warning to other people.