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
Ryan Zimmerman, Riverdale High Zimmerman has been a peer tutor for Riverdale's special education department. Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Beyond athletics, Kingston excels as a peer tutor, supporting fellow students academically, and consistently upholds Tindley’s high expectations. Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Verb
Ane returned to Hawaii and tutored a young offensive lineman named Norm Chow. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025 To get up to speed, Truman took frequent trips to the White House’s Map Room, where Admiral William D. Leahy tutored him. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 16 June 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 24 Jul. 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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