Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

instantiate

verb in·stan·ti·ate \ in-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌāt \

Definition of instantiate

instantiated; instantiating
transitive verb
: to represent (an abstraction) by a concrete instance
  • heroes instantiate ideals
  • —W. J. Bennett
—

instantiation

play \in-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈā-shən\ noun

Examples of instantiate in a Sentence

  1. his imposing mansion is intended to instantiate for visitors his staggering success as an entrepreneur

Recent Examples of instantiate from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'instantiate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of instantiate

1949

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Learn More about instantiate

  1. See words that rhyme with instantiate Britannica English: Translation of instantiate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up instantiate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

adulation

play

excessive admiration or flattery

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

instantiate

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games