to experience someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'to experience someone' is not correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase 'experience someone' to describe the act of encountering or learning about someone or something. For example, "I had the experience of meeting my favorite author last week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It was fun for us to experience someone from the city and ask him where he played".

The New York Times

It's harder to experience someone's shame along with them than it is to rush to try and "fix it" -- but the first option is the best one.

HuffPost

While this future might be a long way off, Lanza sees art as a way teach haters and trolls about empathy by allowing users to "experience someone's experience but then come back to yourself".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Scientists call this emotional contagion (it also happens when someone yawns), and regard it as a basic form of empathy the ability to experience what someone else is feeling.

Science Magazine

The point is to experience what someone of great creative talent an artist might do to you given total control of both of your eyeballs.

The New Yorker

Almost everyone in the primary population had experienced traumatic incidents in the home country; 91% had been involuntarily separated from family, 87% had witnessed torture/killings, and 98% had experienced someone important to them being killed.

Conflict and Health

That way, Lambert will have the chance to experience sex with someone other than his mother.

The New York Times - Books

In many societies, women are most likely to experience violence from someone close to them such as their intimate partners.

BMC Women's Health

In the past, Ferguson said: "United need to have someone experienced, if I was coming into United today I would struggle because of the beast it is".

BBC

Taken even further, it is the end-to-end experience someone has before, during and after engaging with an interface or object (the user journey).

Harvard University

"Julie was someone who was open to my experience, someone who has made it through the brick wall".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of "to experience someone", use phrases like "to understand someone's perspective" or "to get to know someone" for grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "experience" directly with a person as the object. The verb "experience" typically applies to events, feelings, or sensations, not individuals. Instead, focus on verbs that describe interaction, understanding, or observation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to experience someone" functions as an infinitive phrase, but it is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect, noting that "experience" typically applies to events or feelings, not directly to people. Examples show attempts to use it in contexts where understanding or encountering someone is implied.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

34%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to experience someone" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, the verb "experience" is generally used with events, feelings, or sensations, not directly with people. While the intention might be to express understanding or connection, clearer alternatives like "to understand someone's perspective" or "to get to know someone" are recommended. Despite appearing in diverse sources, its incorrect grammar undermines its effectiveness in both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experience someone's perspective

Focuses on understanding their viewpoint, correcting the grammatical structure.

understand someone's feelings

Emphasizes emotional comprehension, replacing "experience" with a more suitable verb.

encounter someone

Highlights the act of meeting or facing someone, streamlining the original phrase.

get to know someone

Focuses on the process of becoming familiar with someone, offering a clearer meaning.

see someone's point of view

Highlights understanding and agreement with their perspective, replacing "experience".

witness someone's life

Emphasizes observing or being present during someone's experiences, providing an alternative context.

be exposed to someone's culture

Focuses on gaining insight into cultural backgrounds, changing the scope from an individual.

observe someone's behavior

Highlights watching actions and mannerisms, shifting from internal experience to external observation.

feel someone's pain

Emphasizes empathy and sharing emotional distress, replacing the original structure with emotional connection.

live through someone's story

Highlights engaging with their narrative or history, creating a different kind of engagement.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "experience" with people?

It's better to say "experience someone's perspective" or "experience working with someone" rather than "to experience someone". Using "experience" to refer to a person directly is grammatically unusual.

What can I say instead of "to experience someone"?

You can use alternatives like "to understand someone", "to get to know someone", or "to interact with someone" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I want to experience someone"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. Instead, try saying "I want "to understand someone's life"" or "I want "to learn from someone"".

What's the difference between "to experience someone" and "to experience something"?

"To experience something" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe undergoing an event, feeling, or situation. "To experience someone" is not standard English; it's better to use a verb that describes interaction or understanding.