1
: a discourse given before an audience or class especially for instruction
2
: a formal reproof
Synonyms
Examples of lecture in a Sentence
Noun
She's planning to give a series of lectures on modern art.
Several hundred people are expected to attend the lecture.
I came home late and got a lecture from my parents.
I gave her a lecture about doing better in school.
Verb
She lectures in art at the local college.
They lectured their children about the importance of honesty.
I lectured her about doing better in school.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Underwood, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023
The celebration featured educational lectures by local environmental organizations, refreshments and family-friendly activities.
—Katia Parks, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2023
In fact, he’s first met giving a lecture on identity, a slightly on-the-nose gesture toward the film’s core theme: How much can people truly change?
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2023
Free community lectures at MiraCosta College MiraCosta College’s LIFE (Learning is for Everyone) group offers two free lectures Sept. 8 in Building T200 on the Oceanside Campus, 1 Barnard Drive.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2023
Use any recording app to capture a lecture, then upload the file to Word for a reasonably accurate readout.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2023
Hike in nature preserves near your house, visit demonstration gardens, go on home tours, walks, and lectures offered by your area’s native plant society to learn about the plants of your region.
—Jessie Kissinger, Popular Mechanics, 16 Aug. 2023
Profs and Pints lecture: ‘AI’s Promise and Perils’ at Penn Social
Thinking about how artificial intelligence will change your life?
—Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023
To celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary, Urban Impact planned three performances and lectures around Birmingham, including an opening week concert at Uptown Birmingham and a Friday evening showcase at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
—Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al, 23 Aug. 2023
Jonathan Den Hartog, National Review, 2 Sep. 2023
His first role at the University of Naples was to lecture on logic and metaphysics.
—Alessio Perrone, Scientific American, 16 Aug. 2023
Even Christie, whose trademark verbal belligerence was widely expected to light up the stage, was hardly more pugnacious than the fiery Haley and Pence, whom the moderators had to lecture to stop hogging the stage.
—Molly Ball, Time, 24 Aug. 2023
Ben-Shahar studied positive psychology for the next few decades, lectured in the field, and earned his Ph.D. in organizational behavior.
—Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 5 Aug. 2023
Avoid lecturing your child, which can turn a bite into a tantrum.
—USA TODAY, 17 July 2023
Strayed: In the books, Charlie lectures Harry about feeling entitled to his forgiveness before shutting the door in his face; in the show, Charlie delivers more of a mic drop than a monologue.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2023
In the darkest moments of the financial crisis in 2008, former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao lectured a group of U.S. government officials and business executives in New York.
—Li Yuan, New York Times, 22 July 2023
The fitness world loves to lecture about competing against no one but yourself.
—Spenser Mestel, Men's Health, 29 June 2023
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Noun
Through his books and lectures, Tallamy has inspired many people to convert their gardens, neighborhoods and city parks into prime bug habitat, mostly by growing the native plants that insects such as butterflies have evolved to use for food and shelter.
—Emily Underwood, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023
The celebration featured educational lectures by local environmental organizations, refreshments and family-friendly activities.
—Katia Parks, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2023
In fact, he’s first met giving a lecture on identity, a slightly on-the-nose gesture toward the film’s core theme: How much can people truly change?
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2023
Free community lectures at MiraCosta College MiraCosta College’s LIFE (Learning is for Everyone) group offers two free lectures Sept. 8 in Building T200 on the Oceanside Campus, 1 Barnard Drive.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2023
Use any recording app to capture a lecture, then upload the file to Word for a reasonably accurate readout.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2023
Hike in nature preserves near your house, visit demonstration gardens, go on home tours, walks, and lectures offered by your area’s native plant society to learn about the plants of your region.
—Jessie Kissinger, Popular Mechanics, 16 Aug. 2023
Profs and Pints lecture: ‘AI’s Promise and Perils’ at Penn Social
Thinking about how artificial intelligence will change your life?
—Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023
To celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary, Urban Impact planned three performances and lectures around Birmingham, including an opening week concert at Uptown Birmingham and a Friday evening showcase at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
—Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al, 23 Aug. 2023
Verb
In 1986, Ferris Bueller’s teacher, played by Ben Stein, put people to sleep by lecturing in a monotone voice about the Smoot-Hawley Tariff.
—Jonathan Den Hartog, National Review, 2 Sep. 2023
His first role at the University of Naples was to lecture on logic and metaphysics.
—Alessio Perrone, Scientific American, 16 Aug. 2023
Even Christie, whose trademark verbal belligerence was widely expected to light up the stage, was hardly more pugnacious than the fiery Haley and Pence, whom the moderators had to lecture to stop hogging the stage.
—Molly Ball, Time, 24 Aug. 2023
Ben-Shahar studied positive psychology for the next few decades, lectured in the field, and earned his Ph.D. in organizational behavior.
—Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 5 Aug. 2023
Avoid lecturing your child, which can turn a bite into a tantrum.
—USA TODAY, 17 July 2023
Strayed: In the books, Charlie lectures Harry about feeling entitled to his forgiveness before shutting the door in his face; in the show, Charlie delivers more of a mic drop than a monologue.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2023
In the darkest moments of the financial crisis in 2008, former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao lectured a group of U.S. government officials and business executives in New York.
—Li Yuan, New York Times, 22 July 2023
The fitness world loves to lecture about competing against no one but yourself.
—Spenser Mestel, Men's Health, 29 June 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lecture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, act of reading, from Late Latin lectura, from Latin lectus, past participle of legere
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1590, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of lecture was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing lecture
Dictionary Entries Near lecture
Cite this Entry
“Lecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lecture. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
lecture
1 of 2 noun
lec·ture
ˈlek-chər 
-shər
1
: a talk given before an audience or class especially for instruction
lecture
2 of 2 verb
lectured; lecturing
ˈlek-chə-riŋ
ˈlek-shriŋ
1
: to give a lecture or a series of lectures
2
: to instruct by lectures
3
More from Merriam-Webster on lecture
Nglish: Translation of lecture for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lecture for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lecture
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