tutor

1 of 2

noun

tu·​tor ˈtü-tər How to pronounce tutor (audio)
ˈtyü-
: a person charged with the instruction and guidance of another: such as
a
: a private teacher
b
: a teacher in a British university who gives individual instruction to undergraduates

tutor

2 of 2

verb

tutored; tutoring; tutors

transitive verb

1
: to teach or guide usually individually in a special subject or for a particular purpose : coach
2
: to have the guardianship, tutelage, or care of

intransitive verb

1
: to do the work of a tutor
2
: to receive instruction especially privately

Examples of tutor in a Sentence

Noun I got a tutor to help me with my homework. He is a tutor in European history. Verb She earned extra money tutoring in the evening. bought a video series designed to tutor a person in the fine art of decorating cakes
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The kids playing sports at big-time college programs are examples of this trend, but so are many of the straight-A students who attend classes at those same colleges, whose parents may have paid for private tutors and consultants to help secure admission. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 June 2025 More than half the tutors celebrated multiple students who were graduating. K. Mauser, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2025
Verb
Ward tutored another Tewaaraton finalist at Army in Brendan Nichtern in 2022. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2025 An impact statement from the group said first- and second-grade students are tutored for 40 minutes, up to four days per week, in a dedicated Reading Power space. Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for tutor

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tutour, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin tutor, from tueri

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tutor was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tutor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tutor. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

tutor

1 of 2 noun
tu·​tor ˈt(y)üt-ər How to pronounce tutor (audio)
: a person who has the responsibility of instructing and guiding another

tutor

2 of 2 verb
: to teach usually individually

Legal Definition

tutor

noun
in the civil law of Louisiana : a guardian of a minor or sometimes of a person with mental retardation compare committee, conservator, curator
tutorship noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tutor

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