teach

verb

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\ 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

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 Have the students teach the class (and grade their work). — Washington Post, "A teacher’s pandemic dilemma: Struggling students and a state-mandated test on the horizon," 3 Mar. 2021 These industry leaders will teach you how to tackle everything from launching your first small business to tips and tricks for growing your ecommerce and customer base. — Forbes Video, Forbes, "Forbes Leadership Lessons," 3 Mar. 2021 These videos, often featuring kids speaking about their own experiences, teach students about self-esteem and self-regulation. — Ada Tseng, Los Angeles Times, "How can we support teachers and their mental health amid COVID-19?," 3 Mar. 2021 His neighbor, saxophonist Donald Harrison, would teach the future rap star about greats like Cannonball Adderley and Ella Fitzgerald. — Rosy Cordero, EW.com, "Biggie's mom, Voletta Wallace, shares how country music and reggae influenced his rap career," 2 Mar. 2021 But universities didn’t teach much more than Christian theology, philosophy and humoral theory, which still dominated medical thinking even though it was first popularized in Ancient Greece. — Olivia Campbell, Smithsonian Magazine, "Part of Being a Domestic Goddess in 17th Century Europe Was Making Medicines," 1 Mar. 2021 The lessons will teach you fundamental programming principles and cover complex programming topics. — Popular Science, "Learn the ins and outs of coding with this bundle of eight classes," 1 Mar. 2021 Its schools teach both traditional tech skills, such as programming, and related areas such as tech suport, inside sales, online marketing, user experience/user design. — Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle, "Oakland's Bitwise puts diverse students on path to tech success by paying them to learn," 25 Feb. 2021 And Cameron and Perkins both co-teach a class at Brigham Young University where students can get credit for learning about the history and culture of hip hop. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "New generation of Utahns finds power and pride through ‘breaking’ and hip hop culture," 25 Feb. 2021

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.

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Last Updated

5 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Teach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teach. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for teach

teach

verb

English Language Learners Definition of teach

: 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.

See the full definition for teach in the English Language Learners Dictionary

teach

verb

\ ˈtēch

taught\ ˈtȯt \; teaching

Kids Definition of teach

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.

Choose the Right Synonym for 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. 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.