Synonyms of school

school 1 of 2

noun

ˈskül 

as in academy

a place or establishment for teaching and learning

one of the first schools in the country to admit girls as students

Synonyms & Similar Words

• academy
• seminary
• kindergarten
• academe
• high school
• prep
• public school
• prep school
• preparatory school
• elementary school
• secondary school
• boarding school
• primary school
• middle school
• trade school
• grammar school
• junior high school
• common school
• senior high school
• yeshiva
• charter school
• Sunday school
• training school
• magnet school
• minischool
• madrassa

school

2 of 2

verb

as in to teach

to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field

schooled their children in proper etiquette for formal occasions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• teach
• educate
• lesson
• train
• tutor
• indoctrinate
• coach
• instruct
• lecture
• mentor
• ground
• guide
• prime
• prepare
• drill
• preach
• homeschool
• inform
• instill
• qualify
• moralize
• lead
• inculcate
• show
• rear
• impart (to)
• habilitate
• implant
• fit
• verse
• introduce
• direct
• brief
• edify
• enlighten
• catechize
• familiarize
• retrain
• reschool
• initiate
• reteach
• reeducate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word school different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of school are discipline, educate, instruct, teach, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than school?

While in some cases nearly identical to school, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

In what contexts can educate take the place of school?

While the synonyms educate and school are close in meaning, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When might instruct be a better fit than school?

The synonyms instruct and school are sometimes interchangeable, but instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

When is it sensible to use teach instead of school?

In some situations, the words teach and school are roughly equivalent. However, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

When can train be used instead of school?

The words train and school can be used in similar contexts, but train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of school

Noun

In Missouri, for example, a new law requires students to participate in active shooter exercises in the 2026-2027 school year; staff may also participate in simulated active shooter drills. —Alana Semuels, Time, 6 Nov. 2025

Rustin’s next-door neighbor thought they should be sent directly from school to compulsory work gangs. —George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025

Verb

It’s been speculated Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk fired Callahan this week to sidestep the embarrassment of Vrabel schooling his successor Sunday. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025

Christy Roscoe home-schooled their two now-adult sons and then their two now-young adult daughters, adopted from Liberia. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025

Phrases Containing school

• nursery school
• senior high school