- a variation of instill.
instil
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to introduce gradually; implant or infuse
-
rare to pour in or inject in drops
Other Word Forms
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.
See Examples For:
"If they're hungry, they'll eat. I don't force them to because I think that can instil pressure," says Doone, from London.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
"Your father will instil values in you," says film director Akinola Davies Jr.
From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2026
"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
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
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
California’s renewed belief largely stems from first-time skipper Tosh Lupoi, who has instilled enthusiasm at his alma mater since taking over for the fired Justin Wilcox in December.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
The airstrikes have instilled deep fear in Ecuadoran fishermen.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
But they are very much in keeping with the values which Painter and Meadows have instilled in a group that continue to hit spectacular heights.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
It will be difficult to break the habits of thinking Abnegation instilled in me, like tugging a single thread from a complex work of embroidery.
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
And though she has never taken formal acting classes, Navarrette credits her seventh-grade English teacher, Ms. Patton, for instilling in her to “feel her feet.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 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
The idea is that prevention is better than a cure when it comes to instilling financial responsibility in young people.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 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
I had so much—an education, a healthy sense of self, a deep arsenal of ambition—and I was wise enough to credit my mother, in particular, with instilling it in me.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
