Definition of instill
transitive verb
1 : to cause to enter drop by drop instill medication into the infected eye
2 : to impart gradually instilling a love of learning in children
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Examples of instill in a Sentence
a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause
Recent Examples of instill from the Web
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Something inside Lahana overrides the baser inclinations instilled in her from childhood.
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The Wilhelms hope that instilling Hawaiian values in at-risk youths will help bolster their sense of self-worth and encourage them to be contributing members of society.
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A few This Town veterans told me that this scary new normal has instilled in them a greater appreciation for old-normal rituals.
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This subtle orientation can persist even among middle-class descendants of the working-class ancestors who instilled it.
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Solutions Journalism contends that readers like to be presented with solutions and that talking only about problems can instill a sense of helplessness.
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Pro-democracy activists said Beijing has increasingly been impinging upon Hong Kong’s autonomy and civil liberties — from attempting to instill a patriotic national education curriculum in 2012 to blocking universal voting rights.
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White House officials contest the suggestion that Trump does not instill fear among fellow Republicans in Congress.
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Mueller told his West Point audience that his military experience instilled in him a desire to continue to serve his country.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'instill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of instill
Middle English, from Latin instillare, from in- + stillare to drip, from stilla drop
Synonym Discussion of instill
INSTILL Defined for English Language Learners
instill
playDefinition of instill for English Language Learners
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: to gradually cause someone to have (an attitude, feeling, etc.)
INSTILL Defined for Kids
instill
playDefinition of instill for Students
instilled
;instilling
: to put into the mind little by little Patience with the ways of nature had been instilled in her by her father. — Jean Craighead George, Julie of the Wolves
Medical Dictionary
instill
playMedical Definition of instill
instilled
;instilling
: to cause to enter especially drop by drop instill medication into the infected eye
Learn More about instill
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See words that rhyme with instill Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for instill Spanish Central: Translation of instill Nglish: Translation of instill for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of instill for Arabic speakers
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