learning curve

noun

1
: a curve plotting performance against practice
especially : one graphing decline in unit costs with cumulative output
2
: the course of progress made in learning something

Examples of learning curve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That intuition usually takes years to build, but a new controller from MIT engineers compresses that learning curve to a single session. — New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026 The learning curve can be steep, even with one of the best beginner telescopes. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The payoff is earned over months, not weeks—and organizations that underestimate the learning curve tend to stall halfway. — Volodymyr Lebediev, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 In addition, says Jillian LoPiano, MD, OB-GYN, and chief health officer at Wisp, menstrual cups can have a steeper learning curve than pads, or even tampons. — Parents, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for learning curve

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of learning curve was in 1903

Rhymes for learning curve

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Browse Nearby Words

learning
learning curve
learning difference
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Cite this Entry

“Learning curve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/learning%20curve. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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