teach

verb \ ˈtēch \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

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

Johnson, 58, who describes himself as a quiet man, said other students have brought kids to class from time to time during his 24 years teaching at the university.

— allison klein, ajc, "In a bind, she brought her baby to school. Her professor held the child while he taught physics.," 10 May 2018
Kim Hak Song and Tony Kim, who had both taught at a university in Pyongyang that was founded with donations from Christian groups, had been held for about one year and apparently had not been tried.

— Washington Post, "Release of 3 detainees in NKorea sealed at last minute," 10 May 2018
Kim is an agricultural expert who'd been teaching rice-growing at the university, his wife told CNN shortly after he was detained.

— joshua berlinger, CNN, "These are the three Americans released by North Korea," 9 May 2018
Notably, the new feature comes just as Amazon releases its Echo Dot Kids Edition, a smart speaker specially designed to teach your kids manners at home.

— arielle pardes, WIRED, "Everything Google Announced at Its Big Show," 8 May 2018
Chaoul, along with Sean Fizpatrick, the executive director of the Jung Center, knew that the practices Chaoul was teaching at MD Anderson would also have a place in the community, both for individuals and other companies.

— rebecca hazen, Houston Chronicle, "The Jung Center opens The Mind, Body, Spirit Institute," 8 May 2018
The district, which declined comment on the matter, hired Rodriguez over the summer to teach fifth grade at Roosevelt Elementary School starting in the fall, records show.

— zak koeske, Daily Southtown, "Teacher charged with attempted murder subbed at Cicero middle school while out on bond, records show," 8 May 2018
Polaris Career Center funds satellite classes taught at Fairview Park High School and Middle School using curriculum provided by nonprofit Project Lead the Way (PLTW).

— john benson, cleveland.com, "Fairview Park High School seniors receive Polaris Career Center biomedical science and engineering awards," 7 May 2018
Washburn, who held two degrees from Harvard and was the son of the late Bradford Washburn, an preeminent explorer who transformed Boston’s Museum of Science, taught English at the school for 23 years before he was fired in February 1987.

— danny mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, "Disgraced former teacher at elite Cambridge school commits suicide," 6 May 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.