Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of instill
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin instillāre, equivalent to in- in- 2 + stillāre “to drip”; see distill
Explanation
Parents work hard to develop, or instill, positive beliefs and values in their children. Interestingly, there's no corresponding word for when parents pass down their bad habits. Instill comes from the Latin verb stillare, meaning "to drip." For some people, this word provides an apt metaphor for the way that parents and teachers cultivate understanding in young learners, patiently introducing wisdom "drop by drop." (Of course, for others, instill conjures up the image of a persistently dripping faucet that just won't be quiet.)
Vocabulary lists containing instill
I Am Malala
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Fever 1793
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Our family is fortunate to have the option to spend on these small treats, and we try to instill a sense of gratitude.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
To make up for this, Gray’s team tried to enlist several leading academic historians to instill more of an overarching narrative structure.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
Helping him learn healthy money habits could instill a sense of confidence and competence that he might not gain from simply having money handed to him.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
What I try to instill instead is an intrinsic desire to grow as a thinker.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
DRACO: And Scorpius is a follower, not a leader, despite everything I’ve tried to instill in him.
From "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by J.K. Rowling
The book and the film — I consumed both and can report that Steven Spielberg’s adaptation is better — only instilled in me a deeper love and respect for sharks.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
What values from your family were instilled in you and your brother?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Dydzuhn also weighed in, writing that she’s only alive because of the values of courage and integrity instilled in Cassius, calling him her hero.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
The airstrikes have instilled deep fear in Ecuadoran fishermen.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
In addition to serving as presidents, educators, and businessmen, the Ulster Scots instilled in mainstream US culture a strong set of Calvinism’s individualist values.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Carlos Beltrán credits his father with instilling his work ethic by winning “perfect attendance” certificates every year for 35 years at his company.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
De la Fuente's success with Spain is the product of decades of work within the Spanish federation, and of his own role as a coach in that system since 2013, shaping players and instilling values.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
In the vast majority of cases, he said, instilling trust in customers is now more important than being able to show off technical genius.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
Attenborough's programmes succeeded in instilling in the public an unparallelled passion and wonder for the natural world, said Gouyon.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
Far from instilling resentment, Martin told her, the patrollers’ diligence was a point of pride from county to county.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
