teach

verb

\ ˈtēch

taught\ ˈtȯt

\; teaching

Definition of teach

transitive verb

1a : to cause to know something taught them a trade

b : to cause to know how is teaching me to drive

c : to accustom to some action or attitude teach students to think for themselves

d : to cause to know the disagreeable consequences of some action I'll teach you to come home late

2 : to guide the studies of

3 : to impart the knowledge of teach algebra

4a : to instruct by precept, example, or experience

b : to make known and accepted experience teaches us our limitations

5 : to conduct instruction regularly in teach school

intransitive verb

: to provide instruction : act as a teacher

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about teach

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Choose the Right Synonym for teach

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

teach, instruct, and train mean to cause to gain knowledge or skill. teach can be used of any method of passing on information or skill so that others may learn. She agreed to teach me how to play. instruct is used when the teaching is done in a formal or orderly manner. Teachers will instruct all students in the sciences. train is used for instruction with a particular purpose in mind. An engineer trained workers to operate the new machines.

Examples of teach in a Sentence

He enjoys teaching his students about history. She taught English for many years at the high school. The church teaches compassion and forgiveness. Someone needs to teach her right and wrong. The experience taught us that money doesn't mean everything. Her injury will teach her not to be so careless with a knife.

Recent Examples on the Web

Many forms of yoga utilize specific breathing techniques, teaching you how to breathe in a purposeful way. — Laura Schwecherl, SELF, "Why All Runners Should Consider Adding Yoga to Their Routines," 15 Jan. 2019 My interview with Yale philosopher Erica Benner about what the writings of 16th-century Italian writer Niccolò Machiavelli can teach us about Trump and liberal democracy was fascinating and definitely worth a read. — Sean Illing, Vox, "Here are the 5 most interesting conversations I had in 2018," 26 Dec. 2018 Dubbed AlphaZero, this program taught itself to play three different board games (chess, Go, and shogi, a Japanese form of chess) in just three days, with no human intervention. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Move over AlphaGo: AlphaZero taught itself to play three different games," 6 Dec. 2018 Applying Winged Liner to Hooded Eyelids Now, this is one of those things that no one can teach you. — Tynan Sinks, Allure, "3 Ways I Mastered Eye Shadow for My Hooded Eyes," 28 Sep. 2018 One by one, Jalen met each dog, learned their name and the officers taught him about them. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Police officers and K9s join boy with tumor to pray before his brain surgery," 13 July 2018 Apply to programs like Qkids to teach English to kids in China via video chat or Skype. — Alessandra Puccio /, NBC News, "Finding your (hidden) value," 13 July 2018 One has been their effort to train Jewish camp counselors to teach their campers about Israeli policy toward Palestinians. — Abraham Riesman, Daily Intelligencer, "Can the young activists of IfNotNow change the conversation about Israel and the Palestinians, or will their contradictions hold them back?," 12 July 2018 To take one example, employers said trainees needed to be taught both hydraulics and pneumatics. — The Economist, "A welcome upgrade to apprenticeships," 12 July 2018

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