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unlearn

KIRU

unlearn

Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling of "unlearn"

IPA: /ʌnˈlɜːn/

Syllable Breakdown:

  • un: /ʌn/

    • /ʌ/ - Open front unrounded vowel

    • /n/ - Alveolar nasal

  • learn: /ˈlɜːn/

    • /l/ - Lateral liquid

    • /ɜː/ - Mid central unrounded vowel (long)

    • /n/ - Alveolar nasal

Word Form Variations

  • unlearn is already an irregular verb, so there are no plural or singular variations. It does, however, have different verb forms:

    • Base form: unlearn

    • Present participle: unlearning

    • Past tense: unlearned

    • Past participle: unlearned

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

(verb)

  • Definition: To forget or abandon a previously learned skill, habit, or belief.

    • Synonyms: forget, abandon, give up, discard

    • Antonyms: learn, acquire, adopt, retain

(adjective)

  • Definition: Not learned or familiar with something.

    • Synonyms: ignorant, unaware, uninformed, unfamiliar

    • Antonyms: learned, knowledgeable, informed, familiar

Examples of Use

Books

  • "It was a matter of unlearning old habits and adopting new ones." (From The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg)

Newspapers

  • "Many people are trying to unlearn the stereotypes associated with certain groups." (From a recent article in The New York Times)

Online Publications

  • "In the digital age, it's important to unlearn outdated information and stay up-to-date." (From a blog post on a tech website)

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms

  • "The character is forced to unlearn their prejudices and learn to accept people for who they are." (From a script for a TV show)

  • "In this game, players must unlearn their old strategies and develop new ones to succeed." (From a video game review)

General Public Discourse

  • "It's time to unlearn the toxic behaviors that have been passed down through generations." (From a social media post)

  • "In order to progress, we must unlearn the outdated systems and structures that hold us back." (From a political speech)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Unlearn

  1. "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
    — Mahatma Gandhi

  2. "I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught."
    — Winston Churchill

  3. "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
    — Martin Luther King Jr.

  4. "You cannot open a book without learning something."
    — Confucius

  5. "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
    — Benjamin Franklin

  6. "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning."
    — Albert Einstein

  7. "We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience."
    — John Dewey

  8. "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young."
    — Henry Ford

  9. "The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing."
    — Voltaire

  10. "You learn more from failure than from success. Don’t let it stop you. Failure builds character."
    — Anonymous

Etymology

The word unlearn is a combination of two parts:

  • un-: This is a prefix that means "not" or "opposite of."

  • learn: This is a verb that means "to acquire knowledge or skills."

So, unlearn basically means "to stop knowing something" or "to forget something."

It's a relatively new word, and its first known use was in the 1600s. Back then, it meant "to forget something that you once knew." Over time, its meaning has expanded to include "to stop believing something" or "to change a habit."

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Unlearn

Direct Use of "Unlearn"

  • Unlearn old habits: To break free from negative or outdated behaviors.

  • Unlearn toxic beliefs: To abandon harmful or untrue ideas.

  • Unlearn fear: To overcome anxiety or phobias.

Phrases with Synonyms for Similar Effect

  • Break free from: To escape or detach oneself from something negative.

  • Let go of: To release or abandon something.

  • Start with a clean slate: To begin anew, free from past mistakes or experiences.

Why are there fewer phrases with "unlearn"?

  1. Newer Word: As "unlearn" is a relatively new term, it hasn't had as much time to become ingrained in everyday language.

  2. Complexity: The concept of "unlearning" can be complex, requiring a certain level of introspection and self-awareness. This might make it less common in casual conversation.

Original Phrases:

  • Unlearn the past: To move on from past mistakes or regrets.

  • Unlearn limitations: To overcome self-imposed boundaries.

  • Unlearn negativity: To replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

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Source Information

Definition of unlearn from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.