teach

verb \ ˈtēch \

Definition of teach

taught play \ˈtȯt\; teaching

transitive verb

1 a :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

4 a :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

See teach defined for English-language learners

See teach defined for kids

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 of teach from the Web

The company offers classes and facilities to teach golf.

— OregonLive.com, "Business Movers: Nadia Dahab named 'New Lawyer of the Year' by Oregon trial attorneys group," 30 Aug. 2017
Since training an engineer from scratch is a lot of work, the industry is increasingly turning to colleges to teach audio professionals.

— joy lanzendorfer, The Atlantic, "Why Aren’t There More Women Working in Audio?," 30 Aug. 2017
Gretchen has been knitting for 25 years and works and teaches at Fiddlehead Yarn Shop in Kenosha, WI.

— Lake County News-Sun, "Calendar," 29 Aug. 2017
But most recently, the longtime elevator attendant Denise at the City-County Building taught him the two-step.

— amy bartner, Indianapolis Star, "Watch: Mayor Joe Hogsett knows he has no rhythm, but dances anyway," 29 Aug. 2017
Whereas other companies tinkering with self-driving cars are teaching their cars by defining different road conditions and manually labeling driving data—this is a passing lane; this is a stop sign—

— andrew zaleski, Fortune, "This Man Wants to Hack Your Car," 23 Aug. 2017
The 23-year-old singer grew up in a strict religious Cincinnati household and taught herself how to play the violin.

— scott mcdonald, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "On the rise: Sudan Archives," 23 Aug. 2017
Nelson is in the middle of a rebuilding project and much of his time is spent teaching the new girls fundamentals.

— mike hutton, Post-Tribune, "Chesterton junior Elyse Stasil finding her golf groove, shoots 65," 23 Aug. 2017
In high school, I wasn’t taught the Navajo language.

— kate friedman, Glamour, "These 22 College Students Will Change Your Perspective on What It's Like to be a Young Woman in America Right Now," 23 Aug. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of teach

Middle English techen to show, instruct, from Old English tǣcan; akin to Old English tācn sign — more at ¹token

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

teach Synonyms

Synonyms

educate, indoctrinate, instruct, lesson, school, train, tutor

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

Synonym Discussion of 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

Other Education Terms

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

TEACH Defined for English Language Learners

teach

verb

Definition of teach for English Language Learners

: to cause or help (someone) to learn about a subject by giving lessons
: to give lessons about (a particular subject) to a person or group
: to cause or help (a person or animal) to learn how to do something by giving lessons, showing how it is done, etc.

TEACH Defined for Kids

teach

verb \ ˈtēch \

Definition of teach for Students

taught \ˈtȯt\; teaching

1 :to help in learning how to do something :show how

He taught me to swim.

2 :to guide the studies of

A substitute is teaching the class today.

3 :to give lessons in

She teaches math.

4 :to cause to know the unpleasant results of something

That will teach you to talk back.

Synonym Discussion of teach

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.