instil

American

[in-stil] / ɪnˈstɪl /

verb (used with object)

instilled, instilling

Chiefly British. a variant of instill.

instil British

/ ɪnˈstɪl /

verb

to introduce gradually; implant or infuse
rare to pour in or inject in drops

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

instiller noun
instilment noun

Etymology

Origin of instil

C16: from Latin instillāre to pour in a drop at a time, from stillāre to drip

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.

It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they wish instil.

From BBC

Meanwhile, so low-key in style, he has failed to really sell an economic and social development vision for Cameroon or instil a sense of progress towards a goal.

From BBC

It's a message she continues to instil in her daughter Harper, 14.

From BBC

They described how these executions are carried out by firing squads in public to instil fear in people and discourage them from breaking the law.

From BBC

But manager Natalia Arroyo is still early in her tenure so it could take some time before she is able to instil her style of play on the squad.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023