instruction

[in-struhk-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or practice of instructing or teaching; education.

   Synonyms: schooling, indoctrination, exercise, drill, training

2. knowledge or information imparted.

3. an item of such knowledge or information.

4. Usually instructions. orders or directions.

   The instructions are on the back of the box.

5. the act of furnishing with authoritative directions.

   Synonyms: mandate, command

6. Computers.,  a command given to a computer to carry out a particular operation.

instruction

/ ɪnˈstrʌkʃən /

noun

1. a direction; order

2. the process or act of imparting knowledge; teaching; education

3. computing a part of a program consisting of a coded command to the computer to perform a specified function

instruction

1. A sequence of bits that tells a computer's central processing unit to perform a particular operation. An instruction can also contain data to be used in the operation.

Other Word Forms

• instructional adjective
• misinstruction noun
• noninstructional adjective
• noninstructionally adverb
• overinstruction noun
• preinstruction noun
• reinstruction noun
• self-instruction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of instruction¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English instruccio(u)n, from Latin instructiōn-, stem of instructiō; equivalent to instruct + -ion

Example Sentences

CST urged everyone attending synagogues or any other Jewish premises to follow all instructions from security guards and police officers.

From BBC

The Chinese national was handed one count of refusing to follow instructions from the French navy and told to attend a court hearing in the northern coastal city of Brest next February.

From BBC

This is then placed inside a donor egg that has been stripped of its genetic instructions.

From BBC

Anderson doesn’t purport to have the answers, only a new way to read life’s instructions.

From Salon

Once he decided to adopt the horse, he received instructions on how to feed Maverick along with a monthly allowance to care and feed the horse.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• direction 
• discipline 
• guidance 
• information 
• lesson 
• preparation 
• schooling 
• teaching 
• training