experience is the best teacher
Lessons learned from experience are the most lasting.
ADJ
considerable, long, wide
good, invaluable, relevant, unrivalled, valuable
Working as a volunteer gave me valuable experience that helped me get my first job.
previous
My previous experience working in restaurants helped me get the new job quickly.
direct, first-hand, hands-on, practical
Working in the shop gave her direct experience of dealing with difficult customers.
professional, work
VERB + EXPERIENCE
have | lack | gain, get
broaden
Working abroad helped him broaden his experience with different cultures and business practices.
PREP
~ of
My father gained valuable experience of working with children during his years as a teacher.
PHRASES
a lack of experience, a wealth of experience
She was rejected for the job because she had a lack of experience in marketing.
ADJ
past
If past experience has taught me anything, it's to always check the weather before planning outdoor activities.
direct, first-hand, hands-on, personal
subjective
Everyone's subjective experience of the concert was completely different depending on their musical taste.
vicarious
Watching travel documentaries gives me a vicarious experience of visiting distant countries.
common, shared
All teenagers go through the shared experience of feeling confused about their future.
common
Many people share the common experience of feeling nervous before their first day at a new job.
everyday
Most people learn important lessons from their everyday experience at work and home.
human
Learning to cook has been an important part of my human experience growing up.
sensory
VERB + EXPERIENCE
have | share
draw on, learn by/from/through
The chef learned from experience that using fresh ingredients makes a real difference.
be based on
My decision to change careers was based on years of experience working in different companies.
EXPERIENCE + VERB
suggest sth, teach (sb) sth
Experience suggests that people who exercise regularly tend to be healthier and happier.
PREP
by/from ~
My teacher learned by experience that students concentrate better in the morning.
in sb's ~
Based on my experience, most students find grammar easier to learn when they practice every day.
~ of
My mother gained valuable experience of teaching children during her volunteer work at the school.
ADJ
enjoyable, exhilarating, good, interesting, liberating, pleasant, rewarding, unforgettable, valuable
bad, harrowing, painful, traumatic, unnerving, unsettling
My first day at the new school was quite an unsettling experience.
hair-raising, nerve-racking
My first job interview was a nerve-racking experience that I'll never forget.
humbling, salutary, sobering | personal, subjective
common, shared
Going to the same school gave us a shared experience that we still talk about today.
common
Many people have the common experience of forgetting why they entered a room.
real-life | past
childhood, early, formative
My formative experiences growing up in a small town taught me to value community and hard work.
educational, learning | mystical, religious, visionary | psychic | sexual | near-death
VERB + EXPERIENCE
enjoy, go through, have, undergo
My grandfather went through an incredible experience when he traveled around the world as a young man.
come through, get over
She came through that difficult experience stronger than ever before.
describe, recount, talk about
share, swap
My colleagues and I often swap experiences about working with difficult clients.
relive
When she watched old home videos, she relived the experience of her childhood summers at the beach.
be based on
The training program is based on real experiences from working in hospitals.
PHRASES
quite an experience
Moving to a new country at age eighteen was quite an experience for me.
ADV
actually
directly, first-hand
Many refugees have directly experienced the effects of war on their families and homes.
subjectively