lecture

1 of 2

noun

lec·​ture ˈlek-chər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
-shər
1
: a discourse given before an audience or class especially for instruction
2
: a formal reproof
lectureship noun

lecture

2 of 2

verb

lectured; lecturing ˈlek-chə-riŋ How to pronounce lecture (audio)
ˈlek-shriŋ

intransitive verb

: to deliver a lecture or a course of lectures

transitive verb

1
: to deliver a lecture to
2
: to reprove formally
lecturer
ˈlek-chər-ər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
ˈlek-shrər
noun

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
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 See More

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

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.

Kids Definition

lecture

1 of 2 noun
lec·​ture ˈlek-chər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
-shər
1
: a talk given before an audience or class especially for instruction
2

lecture

2 of 2 verb
lectured; lecturing ˈlek-chə-riŋ How to pronounce lecture (audio)
ˈlek-shriŋ
1
: to give a lecture or a series of lectures
2
: to instruct by lectures
3
lecturer
-chər-ər How to pronounce lecture (audio)
-shrər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lecture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!