instruction
Americannoun
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the act or practice of instructing or teaching; education.
- Synonyms:
- schooling, indoctrination, exercise, drill, training
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knowledge or information imparted.
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an item of such knowledge or information.
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Usually instructions. orders or directions.
The instructions are on the back of the box.
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the act of furnishing with authoritative directions.
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Computers. a command given to a computer to carry out a particular operation.
noun
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a direction; order
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the process or act of imparting knowledge; teaching; education
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computing a part of a program consisting of a coded command to the computer to perform a specified function
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of instruction
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English instruccio(u)n, from Latin instructiōn-, stem of instructiō; equivalent to instruct + -ion
Explanation
Instruction is vital for education, as it is the transfer of learning from one person to another. Any time you are given directions or told how to do something you are receiving instruction. The noun instruction is related to the word structure; both share the Latin root structus, "built." The use of the word as we know it today appeared in the early 15th century from the Old French. Today it refers to the action of teaching and the job of a teacher. It can also be used to denote the directions themselves. Consider the word's connection with structure: effective instruction is presented in an orderly, structured manner.
Vocabulary lists containing instruction
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 11
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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.
Becerra, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former state Controller Betty Yee had loudly protested not being invited to the USC event.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
Becerra’s call was echoed by former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former state Controller Betty Yee during a Friday afternoon news conference.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
The case first drew widespread attention Friday when De Bremaeker and state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond held a news conference in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
A team from Georgetown University is investigating their deaths at the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, a segregated juvenile detention facility in Cheltenham, Maryland, and memorializing them.
From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026
Instruction number seven said: “Attach handle ‘H’ here for manual operation in case of power failure or in areas where electricity is unavailable.
From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien
Definitions 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.
