What does training mean?
Training is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, fitness, or practical preparation through instruction, study, and repeated practice. It commonly describes the development of a person for employment, professional practice, sport, or another demanding activity, but it can also refer to the instruction of animals and to the preparation of machines or computational models. The noun is usually uncountable and may suggest deliberate, structured preparation rather than incidental learning. In the verb form, training can describe either receiving preparation, as in training for a race, or providing it, as in training new staff. In computing, training a model means adjusting it using data so that it can perform a specified task. Training is therefore both a familiar part of education and an active field of technical practice. Its positive connotation of discipline, competence, and improvement makes it especially useful when describing sustained preparation rather than a single lesson or informal attempt.
The process of teaching, conditioning, or preparing someone or something through instruction or repeated practice.
"The role requires extensive training in emergency procedures."
Usually uncountable; the plural trainings is uncommon and generally refers to separate or specially designated courses.
To teach, coach, or prepare someone or something through instruction or repeated practice; to undergo such preparation.
"She is training for a marathon."
This is the present participle of train. It commonly takes for when describing preparation for an activity and a direct object when describing the instruction of another person.
Denoting something intended for, connected with, or used in training.
"All new employees must attend the company training program."
Used chiefly attributively before a noun, rather than as a predicative adjective.
The plural is uncommon. Training is normally uncountable when referring broadly to instruction or preparation, while trainings is used mainly for separate or specially designated courses.
"Several leadership trainings were scheduled for July."
Training descends from Latin trahere, “to draw or pull,” the same root that gave us tractor and traction.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does training come from?
Training was formed in English by adding the suffix -ing to the verb train. Train developed through Middle and Old French forms related to Latin trahere, “to draw, pull, or lead,” and its educational sense grew from the idea of directing or leading a person toward a particular skill. The same ultimate root also underlies words such as traction and tractor, while related English forms include trainee, trainer, trainable, and retrain.
Related word forms
How training is actually used
As a noun, training is generally uncountable when referring to instruction or preparation, though the plural trainings is occasionally used for distinct or specially designated courses. As the present participle of train, it may describe an activity in progress, as in training for a competition, or the giving of instruction, as in training new employees. The technical data-related sense is common in computing and artificial intelligence.
Easily confused with training
Training is the process of instruction or preparation, whereas a trainee is the person receiving it.
Training is the activity or process, whereas a trainer is the person who organizes or provides it.