instruct

verb

in·​struct in-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce instruct (audio)
instructed; instructing; instructs
Synonyms of instructnext

transitive verb

1
: to give knowledge to : teach, train
2
: to provide with authoritative information or advice
the judge instructed the jury
3
: to give an order or command to : direct

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for instruct

teach, instruct, educate, train, discipline, school mean to cause to acquire knowledge or skill.

teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

command, order, bid, enjoin, direct, instruct, charge mean to issue orders.

command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality.

command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about

bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

Examples of instruct in a Sentence

She instructed us that we were to remain in our seats. The judge instructed the jury that they should disregard the testimony of the last witness. She advised him to instruct a solicitor.
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.
Residents were also instructed to clean and scrub any containers with hot soapy water or bleach to remove any Aedes aegypti eggs and leave them to dry for at least a day. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024 The ship was loaded with furs and other commodities, and the captain was instructed to sail it back to a port in eastern Lake Erie. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2024 Poll workers are instructed, per the secretary of state, to prohibit anyone who arrived after 8 p.m. from voting, but people who are still in line are still allowed to cast their ballot. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024 The rule instructs new parents to spend the first five days after childbirth mostly resting in bed, the next five days mostly resting but starting to resume some activities, and the next five days gradually resuming normal activities. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for instruct 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin instructus, past participle of instruere, from in- + struere to build — more at structure

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of instruct was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near instruct

instroke

instruct

instructible

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Instruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instruct. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

instruct

verb
in·​struct in-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce instruct (audio)
1
: to give knowledge to : teach
the tutor instructs him in math
2
: to give information to : inform
instructed us that the cafeteria was downstairs
3
: to give directions or commands to
instructed her to arrive promptly

Legal Definition

instruct

transitive verb
in·​struct
: to provide (a jury) with explanation and directions regarding the law applicable to a case
the judge instructed the jury that the plaintiff bears the burden of proof
the jury was instructed to ignore the attorney's comments

intransitive verb

: to give instructions to a jury
the trial judge refused to instruct on manslaughter—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

More from Merriam-Webster on instruct

Nglish: Translation of instruct for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of instruct for Arabic Speakers

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