lecture

1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of lecture

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Verb

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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
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.
Noun
No lecture about how her actions might inflame an already toxic situation involving the league’s most visible player. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026 The next phase will support academic curriculum and programming, including executive lectures from Honeywell leaders and innovation internships within the UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business. — Chase Jordan july 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
Verb
He was internationally known as an expert on the work of William Faulkner, teaching and lecturing around the world on the Nobel Prize winner. — Rebecca McCarthy, AJC.com, 13 July 2026 Parsipur taught at Brown University in the early 2000s and lectured internationally throughout the ensuing decades. — News Desk, Artforum, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lecture

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

Phrases Containing lecture

Rhymes for lecture

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Browse Nearby Words

lectotype
lecture
lecture bottle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lecture. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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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
: reprimand entry 1, scolding

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
: reprimand entry 2, scold
lecturer
-chər-ər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
-shrər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lecture

Nglish: Translation of lecture for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lecture

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