teach

verb

\ 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

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.

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

Having a means to normalize experiences can be especially important for folks whose sexuality does not match heteronormative definitions often taught in school. — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, "Introducing Ferly, a Tech Startup Creating a Sex-Positive Space for Women — and It’s Not a Dating App," 14 May 2019 Acquire technical, analytical and interpersonal skills not taught in college classes. — Sue Shellenbarger, WSJ, "The Job Advice You Wish You Knew How to Give," 6 May 2019 One of the MediaWise partners is Stanford History Education Group, which is developing a curriculum called Civic Online Reasoning that will be taught in middle schools and high schools starting this fall. — Alison Caporimo, Seventeen, "What Is Fake News and How Can I Spot It?," 25 Mar. 2019 Or Ariana to literally show up at Tyra's Stanford class and teach in her adorable pink glasses. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Ariana Grande Fangirls Over Tyra Banks on Twitter—and Tyra's a Fan," 7 Feb. 2019 Guests can learn to weave, hunt with a blowpipe, and fish sustainably with poisonous roots, but there are also opportunities to teach in the local school. — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, "28 Places Our Travel Specialists Say You Should Go in 2019," 17 Dec. 2018 The highs taught me to not take anything for granted. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "Selena Gomez Drops a Sexy Swimwear Line That Helps Conceal Surgical Scars and Everything Is Under $50," 3 May 2019 For generations, men have been taught to reject traits like gentleness and sensitivity, leaving them without the tools to deal with internalized anger and frustration. — Melanie Hamlett, Harper's BAZAAR, "Men Have No Friends and Women Bear the Burden," 2 May 2019 The kids were teaching me how to sign on the shoot. — Kate T. Parker, Good Housekeeping, "I Didn't Think Boys Needed to Hear a Message of Self-Acceptance. I Was So Wrong.," 30 Apr. 2019

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.