instruct

verb in·struct \ in-ˈstrəkt \

Definition of instruct

transitive verb

1 :to give knowledge to :teach, train

2 :to provide with authoritative information or advice

the judge instructed the jury

3 :to give an order or command to :direct

See instruct defined for English-language learners

See instruct defined for kids

Examples of instruct in a Sentence

She instructed us that we were to remain in our seats.
The judge instructed the jury that they should disregard the testimony of the last witness.
She advised him to instruct a solicitor.

Recent Examples of instruct from the Web

A few days later, Ms. Litwack was instructed by her district superintendent, Anita Skop, to report Ms. Super to the state.

— elizabeth a. harris, New York Times, "Family of Boy Who Wears Dresses Sues Education Department," 29 Aug. 2017
After the squad’s commander informed Urquhart about the claims, the sheriff instructed him not to document them, the commander later testified in a deposition for the lawsuit.

— lewis kamb, The Seattle Times, "King County watchdog faults Sheriff Urquhart’s handling of rape allegations against him," 15 Aug. 2017
Not long before the November election, amid media pressure for the agency to produce internal communications, the report said agency officials instructed workers to delete emails associated with the inquiry.

— michael smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sex offender housing restrictions: where the law, common sense and politics collide," 13 Aug. 2017
Trump has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to scrap or change regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, and has started to open up more public land and waters to fossil fuel activity.

— isobel thompson, The Hive, "Damning Federal Climate Report Leaked Before Trump Can Suppress It," 8 Aug. 2017
My Traitor’s Heart by Rian Malan Years ago, an editor instructed me to read My Traitor’s Heart, Rian Malan’s 1990 reported memoir about Late Apartheid South Africa.

— the editors, The Atlantic, "What We're Reading This Summer," 4 Aug. 2017
During the roll-out of Trump's January travel ban, Trump Administration officials instructed high-ranking members of Customs and Border Protection to ignore both the media and Congressional representatives , emails show.

— robert newhouse, Teen Vogue, "These Emails Show What Trump Told Border Officers to Do to Enforce His Travel Ban," 3 Aug. 2017
By inserting the gene for Cas9 into an organism, together with genetic material that instructs a cell to produce the correct guide RNA, biologists can therefore use CRISPR-Cas9 to sever a genome at a specific point.

— The Economist, "Gene drivesA promising means of pest control meets some evolutionary truths," 22 July 2017
The comptroller’s office noted that the department had instructed schools to use data from the Asset Management System as a basis for creating and updating their own inventory records.

— kate taylor, New York Times, "New York Schools Faulted Again for Failing to Keep Track of Computers," 19 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of instruct

Middle English, from Latin instructus, past participle of instruere, from in- + struere to build — more at structure

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First Known Use: 15th century

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instruct Synonyms

Synonyms

educate, indoctrinate, teach, lesson, school, train, tutor

Antonyms

mind, obey

Related Words

coach, mentor; drill, fit, ground, habilitate, prepare, prime, qualify; direct, guide, lead, rear; catechize, lecture, moralize, preach; implant, inculcate, instill (also instil); homeschool; edify, enlighten; brief, familiarize, impart (to), inform, verse; initiate, introduce, show; reeducate, reschool, reteach, retrain

Near Antonyms

misinform, mislead

Synonym Discussion of instruct

teach, instruct, educate, train, discipline, school mean to cause to acquire knowledge or skill. teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

- taught us a lot about our planet

instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

- instructs raw recruits in military drill

educate implies development of the mind.

- more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

- trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

- a disciplined mind

school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

- schooled the horse in five gaits

command, order, bid, enjoin, direct, instruct, charge mean to issue orders. command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality. command stresses official exercise of authority.

- a general commanding troops

order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

- ordered his employees about like slaves

bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

- she bade him be seated

enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

- a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

- directed her assistant to hold all calls
- the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

- charged by the President with a secret mission

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

INSTRUCT Defined for English Language Learners

instruct

verb

Definition of instruct for English Language Learners

: to teach (someone) a subject, skill, etc.
: to give (someone) an order or command
law : to give an order or an explanation of a law to (a jury)

INSTRUCT Defined for Kids

instruct

verb in·struct \ in-ˈstrəkt \

Definition of instruct for Students

instructed; instructing

1 :to give knowledge to :teach

A tutor instructs him in math.

2 :to give information to

I instructed him that school was closed.

3 :to give directions or commands to

She instructed us to stay seated.

Law Dictionary

instruct

transitive verb in·struct

legal Definition of instruct

:to provide (a jury) with explanation and directions regarding the law applicable to a case

the judge instructed the jury that the plaintiff bears the burden of proof

the jury was instructed to ignore the attorney's comments

intransitive verb

:to give instructions to a jury

the trial judge refused to instruct on manslaughter
—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

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Examples of instruct in a Sentence

Recent Examples of instruct from the Web

Origin and Etymology of instruct

instruct Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of instruct

Other Education Terms

INSTRUCT Defined for English Language Learners

instruct

Definition of instruct for English Language Learners

INSTRUCT Defined for Kids

instruct

Definition of instruct for Students

Law Dictionary

instruct

legal Definition of instruct

Learn More about instruct

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