instruct

1 to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field spent his military career instructing young pilots Synonyms educate, indoctrinate, teach, lesson, school, train, tutorRelated Words coach, mentor; drill, fit, ground, habilitate, prepare, prime, qualify; direct, guide, lead, rear; catechize, lecture, moralize, preach; implant, inculcate, instill (also instil); homeschool; edify, enlighten; brief, familiarize, impart (to), inform, verse; initiate, introduce, show; reeducate, reschool, reteach, retrain

2 to give information to instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system Synonyms acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catch up, clear, clue (in), familiarize, fill in, hip, inform, enlighten, tell, verse, wise (up)Related Words advertise, alert, notify; announce (to), disclose (to); assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant; educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceiveNear Antonyms misinform, mislead

3 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the proctors instructed everyone to put their pencils down and hand in their tests Synonyms adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, direct, enjoin, command, order, tellRelated Words ask, petition, request; beg, beseech, entreat; advise, counsel, warn; appoint, assign, authorize, commission; oversee, superintend, supervise; conduct, control, lead, manage; coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, requireNear Antonyms comply (with), follow, keep, observeAntonyms mind, obey