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 All lifeguards are American Red Cross certified and classes are designed to teach water safety and skills. — cleveland, "New Butterfly House under construction at Miller Nature Preserve: Short Takes on Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville," 2 May 2021 One of his professors, Carol Creedon, taught him that schools could not only teach but transform children, inspiring him to go into education. — BostonGlobe.com, "Robert Slavin, whose reading program is used in schools nationwide, dies at 70," 1 May 2021 Both vaccines use the same technology, called an adenovirus, to teach the immune system to fight the virus that causes Covid-19. — NBC News, "FDA wants 'significant' amount of extra data on AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine," 30 Apr. 2021 In a video, Johnson showed the simulator that police departments use to teach officers how to handle dangerous situations. — Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, "LeBron James challenged to walk in ‘a policeman’s shoes’," 29 Apr. 2021 One of his professors, Carol Creedon, taught him that schools could not only teach but transform children, inspiring him to go into education. — Washington Post, "Robert Slavin, whose reading program is used in schools nationwide, dies at 70," 29 Apr. 2021 Here are five ways to teach kids to be kind to animals. — San Antonio Express-News, "Express Briefing: Parents who help trans kids transition could face charges," 29 Apr. 2021 In the message, the president hailed Mr. Carter’s work in office and after his defeat to Ronald Reagan in 1980, praising Mr. Carter for working to eradicate disease and house the poor while still finding time to teach Sunday school. — Jim Tankersley, New York Times, "Biden, in Georgia to Promote Economic Agenda, Visits Carter," 29 Apr. 2021 So, really, who better to teach a new MasterClass course on sci-fi world-building than the writer who created stone eaters and taught readers to imagine a sky full of giant floating obelisks? — Christian Holub, EW.com, "N.K. Jemisin wants to help you build better worlds for your stories," 28 Apr. 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

4 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Teach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teach. Accessed 14 May. 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.