lecture

1 of 2

noun

lec·​ture ˈlek-chər 

-shər

1

: a discourse given before an audience or class especially for instruction

2

: a formal reproof

lectureship

ˈlek-chər-ˌship 

-shər-

noun

lecture

2 of 2

verb

lectured; lecturing ˈlek-chə-riŋ 

ˈlek-shriŋ

intransitive verb

: to deliver a lecture or a course of lectures

transitive verb

1

: to deliver a lecture to

2

: to reprove formally

lecturer

ˈlek-chər-ər 

ˈlek-shrər

noun

Synonyms of lecture

Verb

• scold
• reprimand
• blame
• criticize

Examples of lecture in a Sentence

Noun

She's planning to give a series of lectures on modern art.

Several hundred people are expected to attend the lecture.

I came home late and got a lecture from my parents.

I gave her a lecture about doing better in school.

Verb

She lectures in art at the local college.

They lectured their children about the importance of honesty.

I lectured her about doing better in school.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Keller recently announced plans to move 40 courses to a hybrid learning model that combines online lectures and small in-person sections this fall in an effort to cut costs. —Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026

According to The Washington Post, in the lectures Thiel argues that the Antichrist could manifest as a global government system that could take power by exploiting citizen’s fears about artificial intelligence, climate change or nuclear war. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026

Verb

Thiel has previously written and lectured on the subject, arguing that the Antichrist is not necessarily a person but could come as a global government system. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026

Resist the urge to explain, defend or lecture. —Becky Kennedy sheryl Ziegler, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, act of reading, from Late Latin lectura, from Latin lectus, past participle of legere

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1590, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing lecture

• curtain lecture
• lecture hall

Rhymes for lecture

• architecture
• conjecture
• prefecture

Kids Definition

lecture

1 of 2 noun

lec·​ture ˈlek-chər 

-shər

1

: a talk given before an audience or class especially for instruction

2

: reprimand entry 1, scolding

lecture

2 of 2 verb

lectured; lecturing ˈlek-chə-riŋ 

ˈlek-shriŋ

1

: to give a lecture or a series of lectures

2

: to instruct by lectures

3

: reprimand entry 2, scold

lecturer

-chər-ər 

-shrər

noun