instruction

noun in·struc·tion \ in-ˈstrək-shən \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of instruction

1 a : precept

prevailing cultural instructions

b : a direction calling for compliance : order —usually used in plural

had instructions not to admit strangers

c instructions plural : an outline or manual of technical procedure : directions

d : a code that tells a computer to perform a particular operation

2 : the action, practice, or profession of teaching

—

instructional

play \in-ˈstrək-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See instruction defined for English-language learners

See instruction defined for kids

Examples of instruction in a Sentence

You should read each instruction carefully.
Their instruction was to deliver the package by five o'clock.
The after-school program offers reading instruction to students who need it.
The computer can handle one million instructions per second.

Recent Examples of instruction from the Web

Thirty minutes into the television program that Trump promoted on Wednesday, attorney Joseph DiGenova -- who nearly joined Trump's legal team before withdrawing because of conflicts -- barked his instructions.

— pamela brown, CNN, "White House is prepping an effort to undermine Rosenstein," 12 Apr. 2018
In 2010, a group of professors at Berkeley created their own RISC instruction set to use in class.

— klint finley, WIRED, "Using Open Source Designs to Create More Specialized Chips," 12 Apr. 2018
His only instruction was to write down everything Ortega freely said.

— maureen o'connor, The Cut, "Video Shows Nanny in Murder Trial Denying Hallucinations," 12 Apr. 2018
Pruitt, meanwhile, has some explaining to do to the White House about how two of his confidantes came to get giant pay raises against its instructions.

— evan halper, latimes.com, "Once a Trump favorite, can Scott Pruitt save his job?," 5 Apr. 2018
In Italy, Hayes followed his parental instructions and stayed out of trouble.

— scott springer, Cincinnati.com, "Moeller basketball star Jaxson Hayes in Italy playing for team Ohio," 3 Apr. 2018
Perhaps the Wagner Group paramilitary operatives were exceeding their instructions or freelancing.

— tod lindberg, WSJ, "A U.S. Battlefield Victory Against Russia’s ‘Little Green Men’," 3 Apr. 2018
What has qualified advice columnists isn’t knowledge, but something more like a projectable bedside manner that stops people from bristling at their instruction.

— alexandra molotkow, The New Republic, "The Power of the Advice Columnist," 26 Mar. 2018
Schools will have to start weaving the new curriculum into their instruction by the 2019-20 school year.

— arika herron, Indianapolis Star, "Here are all the new school mandates passed by the Indiana legislature," 25 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of instruction

15th century

instruction Synonyms

Other Education Terms

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

INSTRUCTION Defined for English Language Learners

instruction

noun

Definition of instruction for English Language Learners

: a statement that describes how to do something
: an order or command
: the action or process of teaching : the act of instructing someone

INSTRUCTION Defined for Kids

instruction

noun in·struc·tion \ in-ˈstrək-shən \

Definition of instruction for Students

1 instructions plural : a specific rule or command

I left instructions that I was not to be disturbed.

2 instructions plural : an outline of how something is to be done

Follow the instructions on the box.

3 : the act or practice of teaching

Students receive instruction in history.

Law Dictionary

instruction

noun in·struc·tion

legal Definition of instruction

: an explanation of an applicable principle of law given by a judge to a jury before the jury retires to consider its verdict — called also jury charge, jury instruction

Note: Under both the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, at the close of evidence, or before the close if the court reasonably so directs, any party may file written requests for the instructions to be given to the jury by the court. The court must advise the parties of its decision regarding the instructions prior to closing argument so that the parties may address the instructions during argument. Any objections to the instructions must be made before the jury retires for deliberation.