teach

verb

Save Word

\ 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 Phrases Containing teach Learn More About teach

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web But while failures can teach health systems just as much about what’s actually viable as successes, leadership is often hesitant to discuss them publicly in detail. — Mohana Ravindranath, STAT, 8 June 2022 Bezawit O'Neill is part of a tutoring program to teach students English. — Jeneé Osterheldt, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2022 The museum will house hundreds of artworks that Marin is donating, and will also feature a cultural center to teach the community about the Chicano art form. — Carson Burton, Variety, 6 June 2022 Now, current students go to other city high schools to talk about the mural and teach their peers how to become anti-gun-violence activists and how to brainstorm solutions to curb the violence. — Perry Stein, Washington Post, 6 June 2022 The project sent Schwartz and some of his fellow grad students into Delta classrooms to teach their art form. — Dwain Hebda, Arkansas Online, 5 June 2022 Proprietors Janet and Howard Melvin asked me to teach my first cooking class. — Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 4 June 2022 In 2020, the Pueblo of Acoma and The Language Conservancy signed a settlement saying that the conservancy could no longer teach Keres classes, according to the tribe. — Graham Lee Brewer, NBC News, 3 June 2022 More faculty and graduate students are needed to teach more courses, and more classrooms and labs are needed to house them. — Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2022 See More

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.

Buying Guide

Check out the best educational products selected by our Reviews team.

Learn More About teach

Dictionary Entries Near teach

tea ceremony

teach

teachability

Statistics for teach

Last Updated

9 Jun 2022

Cite this Entry

“Teach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teach. Accessed 1 Jul. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for teach

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.