Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of instill
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin instillāre, equivalent to in- in- 2 + stillāre “to drip”; see distill
Explanation
Parents work hard to develop, or instill, positive beliefs and values in their children. Interestingly, there's no corresponding word for when parents pass down their bad habits. Instill comes from the Latin verb stillare, meaning "to drip." For some people, this word provides an apt metaphor for the way that parents and teachers cultivate understanding in young learners, patiently introducing wisdom "drop by drop." (Of course, for others, instill conjures up the image of a persistently dripping faucet that just won't be quiet.)
Vocabulary lists containing instill
I Am Malala
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Fever 1793
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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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.
See Examples For:
As it happens, a questioning mindset is precisely what most of our schools do not instill.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
The culture he wants to instill “is resonating. I hear it back in the hallways. I hear it at the cafeteria.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The franchise is trying to eliminate reminders while attempting to instill hope for the future.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
At the very least, the president of the United States should instill hope in young children.
From Salon ● May 8, 2026
He was himself a striver, and he sought to instill that ethos in the school.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Despite their fame, the children's parents and manager have instilled in them an "education-first" mentality.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Armed with tennis magazines but no formal training, her grandfather instilled a grueling “tough love” grit in Eala and her older brother, who played college tennis at Penn State.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
That’s when Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro recognized the shape that has long instilled fear into American adversaries across the globe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
They had tons of it and the steel O'Neill instilled was the thing that got them over the line in the Premiership and the Scottish Cup.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
His focus is one instilled by mentors at the seminary: “Either we are with the poor, or we are not. God teaches us to most help the poor. Any other interpretation is unacceptable.”
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Carlos Beltrán credits his father with instilling his work ethic by winning “perfect attendance” certificates every year for 35 years at his company.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Attenborough's programmes succeeded in instilling in the public an unparallelled passion and wonder for the natural world, said Gouyon.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
The attorney general's office said "for years, this structure has operated systematically, instilling fear and grief in Salvadoran families".
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026
“It should be framed to help people make informed decisions rather than instilling a crisis mentality,” Mitchell said.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 2, 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
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.
