lecture

1 of 2

noun

lec·​ture ˈlek-chər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
-shər
1
: a discourse given before an audience or class especially for instruction
2
: a formal reproof
lectureship noun

lecture

2 of 2

verb

lectured; lecturing ˈlek-chə-riŋ How to pronounce lecture (audio)
ˈlek-shriŋ

intransitive verb

: to deliver a lecture or a course of lectures

transitive verb

1
: to deliver a lecture to
2
: to reprove formally
lecturer
ˈlek-chər-ər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
ˈlek-shrər
noun

Examples of lecture in a Sentence

Noun She's planning to give a series of lectures on modern art. Several hundred people are expected to attend the lecture. I came home late and got a lecture from my parents. I gave her a lecture about doing better in school. Verb She lectures in art at the local college. They lectured their children about the importance of honesty. I lectured her about doing better in school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
What: This two-day event features Irish music and dances, a children's festival, a genealogy expert, lectures on Irish history, and authentic Irish dishes, such as Guinness stew, corned beef sandwiches, homemade scones, soda bread and more. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2024 Miraval Arizona, located in Tucson, has an all-inclusive experience that throws in fitness classes, health and wellness lectures, and spa treatments, among other amenities. Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 Saturday’s schedule also included demonstrations of colonial life, lectures and performances. Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2024 As part of the deal, Third Side Music will now foster unique creative music opportunities for Watts’ trove of 500+ house of audio commentary, lectures and radio programming for use in new songs, films, TV shows, ads, and more. Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 29 Feb. 2024 David Tizzard, who has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women’s University, is impressed by how quickly attitudes changed. Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Some characteristics of high-quality review products include: On-Demand Access: The ability to study at your own pace, accessing materials and lectures online anytime, anywhere. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Highlights include a birding and optics expo, workshops and lectures, field trips around San Diego, pelagic trips, a bookstore and an auction. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024 Copeland will participate in a book signing after the lecture. The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Van Hise lectured on eugenics, gave public speeches and talked to legislators. Journal Sentinel, 29 Feb. 2024 Knight also lectures at Texas A&M School of Law and for the State Bar of Texas. James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2024 Soldiers conducting street raids lecture young men found with small bags of marijuana on the perils of drugs or a life of crime. Annie Correal Federico Rios, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024 By turns, one of us lectured for the first hour, and the other served as commentator during the class discussion for the second. Bernard Avishai, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2024 Putin, who was first elected in 2000 on the promise of making Russia great again, also refused to be lectured about democracy. Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024 One person who had met with Putin in 2021 described being stunned as the president lectured him for 25 minutes about the threat posed by the U.S. and its allies to Russia. Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2024 No one likes to be lectured, and no one wants to be talked down to. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Founded in 1946 though federal legislation proposed by United States Senator J. William Fulbright, the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program funds American scholars and professionals to go abroad to lecture or conduct research for up to a year. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lecture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, act of reading, from Late Latin lectura, from Latin lectus, past participle of legere

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1590, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

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

Dictionary Entries Near lecture

Cite this Entry

“Lecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lecture. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lecture

1 of 2 noun
lec·​ture ˈlek-chər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
-shər
1
: a talk given before an audience or class especially for instruction
2

lecture

2 of 2 verb
lectured; lecturing ˈlek-chə-riŋ How to pronounce lecture (audio)
ˈlek-shriŋ
1
: to give a lecture or a series of lectures
2
: to instruct by lectures
3
lecturer
-chər-ər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
-shrər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lecture

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