teach

play

verb \ˈtēch\

Definition of teach

taught

play \ˈtȯt\;

teaching

transitive verb
1a : to cause to know something taught them a tradeb : to cause to know how is teaching me to drivec : to accustom to some action or attitude teach students to think for themselvesd : 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 experienceb : 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

Most Saudi women who do work are in teaching jobs, though women have also run in local elections and hold posts in the country’s top consultative body, the Shura Council. ___

— aya batrawy, The Seattle Times, "A look at why a Saudi woman’s miniskirt sparked an outcry," 20 July 2017
Its goal is to teach students science, technology, engineering and mathematic topics that relate to astronomy.

— diego dela rosa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Mad Science brings outer space to San Diego," 19 July 2017
Hopefully, all the women testifying to the annoyance of period cramps on Twitter have taught @goldenconceptng that lesson.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "A Man (Yes, a Man) Just Said 'Menstrual Pain Is a Myth' and Twitter Is Not Having It," 18 July 2017
Ms. Pfeil, 39, who teaches linguistic anthropology at New York University said.

— james c. mckinley jr. and hannah alani, New York Times, "Man Who Pushed Passenger to His Death on Subway Tracks Is Acquitted," 17 July 2017
All classes are taught by owner Laura Watson and her team of professional merfolk, who are each certified by the American Red Cross as water safety instructors and lifeguards.

— courtney ortega, star-telegram, "The Mercademy offers mermaid classes in Fort Worth and surrounding cities," 14 July 2017
Now someone just has to teach the robot truckers how to honk for kids.

— juquai mcduffie, Popular Mechanics, "Ambulance Update Is a Reminder of How Much Self-Driving Cars Have to Learn," 11 July 2017
In his spare time, Weiser teaches beginning woodcarving classes to children and senior citizens through the Naperville Park District.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Man's talent comes out of the woodwork," 8 July 2017
Teaching all day, then coaching after school is exhausting enough.

— rahim thompson, Post-Tribune, "Lindsay Moskalick the Post-Tribune 2017 Girls Track Coach of the Year," 5 July 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

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

play

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

play

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.