teach

verb \ ˈtēch \

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: teach in a Sentence

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

Josh does things on the field that can’t be taught.

— glenn graham, baltimoresun.com, "2018 All-Metro boys lacrosse first and second teams," 4 July 2018
Rhoda established a chapter of Literacy Volunteers of America in Glens Falls, and spent the remainder of her life volunteering as a tutor and teaching ESL.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Rhoda Clearwater," 3 July 2018
The studio offers private classes, group classes and social practice parties teaching Latin and American ballroom, hip hop, contemporary, ballet, jazz and other partner-dance styles.

— judith zizzo, Sun-Sentinel.com, "'Dancing with the Stars' pros open studio at Boca Town Center | GALLERY," 3 July 2018
Hendrex, a nearly 10-year department veteran and field training officer, is first seen teaching rookie Officer Elif Varsin to write trespassing tickets for two women in a Mandalay Bay hotel security office.

— Washington Post, "Officer’s hesitation during Vegas shooting prompts review," 2 July 2018
The Little Red Schoolhouse in Manhattan’s West Village charges $45,485 per year and teaches the children of David Schwimmer, Christy Turlington Burns, and Sofia Coppola.

— michael harriot, The Root, "Private School for Rich Kids Announces Plans to Segregate Students By Race," 2 July 2018
The league will teach the fundamentals of football without tackling or blocking, and some games will be held under the lights on one of the park district’s synthetic turf fields.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "Naperville News Digest," 29 June 2018
What are the main skills taught in these weekly self-defense classes?

— National Geographic, "Meet the 'Kickboxing Grannies' of Kenya's Most Dangerous Slum," 28 June 2018
One of the film's most significant scenes shows Rose teaching Sam how to ride a bicycle, which is fraught with emotion because Sam's mother died years earlier in a cycling accident.

— danielle gensburg, Chicago Reader, "Music is the connecting tissue in indie drama Hearts Beat Loud, starring Nick Offerman," 28 June 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.

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

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

teach Synonyms

Synonyms

educate, indoctrinate, instruct, 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.