experience

plural experiences

1. countableuncountableThe 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.

   It was an experience he would not soon forget.

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   March 20, 1684-5, John Sharp, Sermon preached at Whitehall 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. […]”

   1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad

   Lastly, I must mention the "Underground," to travel on which was, in those days, an experience to be remembered. There were the antique looking engines, and the rather grim carriages, with the fascinating indicators in the compartments to show (not always correctly!) the next station, and above all, there was the atmosphere.

   1957 July 28, M. D. Greville, “A Diamond Jubilee of Railway Memories”, in Railway Magazine, page 459

2. countableAn activity one has performed.
3. uncountableusuallyA collection of events and/or activities from which an individual or group may gather knowledge, opinions, and skills.

   Virtually all employers now require jobseekers to have work experience even for entry-level roles. Many believe this will hurt companies in the long run.

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   they knew soone by experience how slenderly guarded against danger, the majestie of Rulers is

   1659, T[itus] Livius [i.e., Livy], “(please specify the book number)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Romane Historie […], London: […] W. Hunt, for George Sawbridge, […], →OCLC

   Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer in one word, from experience.

   1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 2, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book I, page 1

   We determined that the car driver’s transportation of multiple teen passengers, limited driving experience, and likely impairment from effects of cannabis at the time of the crash adversely affected her judgment of the danger of entering the intersection in front of the approaching combination vehicle.

   2024, NTSB, Intersection Crash Between Passenger Car and Combination Vehicle, Tishomingo, Oklahoma, March 22, 2022

4. uncountableThe knowledge thus gathered.

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   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.

   2013 June 7, Ed Pilkington, “‘Killer robots’ should be banned in advance, UN told”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 6

5. countableuncountablecorporateA business offering in which a major focus is the way that the customer interacts with the business throughout the transaction, as opposed to only its outcome (the product or service).

   Therefore, this chapter argues for an engagement with the actions, performances and practices of the experiencing subjects that 'make places' in the experience economy.

   2008 January 1, Jon Sundbo, Per Darmer, Creating Experiences in the Experience Economy, Edward Elgar Publishing, →ISBN, page 176

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   CDNOW's custom music selection and Levi Strauss & Co.'s custom-fit jean service are also good examples of giving customers more than just the product, but an experience as well.

   1999, Journal of Integrated Communications

   In addition, technical developments will change the way firms offer experiences. Many firms will have to change their core product, offer a total experience, and redesign their business processes.

   2020 August 21, Susanne Doppler, Adrienne Steffen, Case Studies on Food Experiences in Marketing, Retail, and Events, Woodhead Publishing, →ISBN, page 192

6. countableuncountablegamesSynonym of experience points

   As your troops conquer the enemy, they'll earn experience and gain levels. Each time they level up, their stats will increase.

   2003 December 28, “Fire Emblem”, in Nintendo Power, volume 174, Show Some Class, page 33

   Synonyms: experience points

7. obsoleteuncountableTrial; a test or experiment.

   She caused him to make experience / Vpon wyld beasts, which she in woods did find, / With wrongfull powre oppressing others of their kind

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 7

present singular third person experiences · participle present experiencing · participle past experienced · past experienced

1. transitiveTo 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.

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   A 2022 report published by the Scottish Borders Council states: "Hawick has been affected more by depopulation than any other Borders town, with all parts of the town experiencing population loss, and Hawick Central is currently experiencing the highest depopulation out of the 30 Intermediate Zones in Scottish Borders."

   2025 April 30, Andy Comfort, “£10 million closer to Carlisle”, in RAIL, number 1034, page 41

   Synonyms: undergo, have