variants
or British instil
instills; instilled; instilling
: to gradually cause someone to have (an attitude, feeling, etc.)
instill character/discipline
—usually + in or intoThey have instilled a love of music in their children.
The coach is trying to instill in/into the players a feeling of confidence.
Cite this Entry
“Instill.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/instill. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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