idiom · academic
by rote
UK/baɪ rəʊt/US/baɪ roʊt/by·ROTE
learned or memorised by repetition without understanding
Examples
“Many students memorise dates by rote but can't explain their significance.”
“Relying on rote learning often limits critical thinking.”
“Teachers are encouraged to move away from teaching by rote.”
Band 8 sentence
“While some facts can be learned by rote, deep understanding requires applying concepts to new problems.”
Collocations
- learn something by rote
- rote learning methods
Word family
Common mistakes
I learnt the formula by heart, so I understand it.→I learnt the formula by rote, so I can recite it but I don't fully understand it.
Students are taught by rote in a good way.→Students are taught by rote, which often limits their understanding.
Say it for a higher band
5learn by heart→6memorise→7+by rote
Synonyms
learn by heart
memorise
Easily confused
memorize
“He memorized the formula but couldn't apply it in a different context.”
Related words
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In Study
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