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.

"These are symbolic gestures of intimidation intended to instil fear, but they are not effective."

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

A few weeks into the course, the new entrants bent their hands, legs and bodies as trainer Hang Sophea sought to instil the basics.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

"We had to instil confidence in the local community to reach the point where we're at," Mr Hawrylak told the BBC.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025

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

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2025

And this curiosity about music is something the Classical-era Greeks wanted to instil in younger generations.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

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