institute

[in-sti-toot, -tyoot]

verb (used with object)

instituted, instituting 

1. to set up; establish; organize.

   to institute a government.

2. to inaugurate; initiate; start.

   to institute a new course in American literature.

3. to set in operation.

   to institute a lawsuit.

4. to bring into use or practice.

   to institute laws.

5. to establish in an office or position.

6. Ecclesiastical.,  to assign to or invest with a spiritual charge, as of a parish.

noun

1. a society or organization for carrying on a particular work, as of a literary, scientific, or educational character.

2. the building occupied by such a society.

3. Education.

   1. an institution, generally beyond the secondary school level, devoted to instruction in technical subjects, usually separate but sometimes organized as a part of a university.

   2. a unit within a university organized for advanced instruction and research in a relatively narrow field of subject matter.

   3. a short instructional program set up for a special group interested in a specialized field or subject.

4. an established principle, law, custom, or organization.

5. institutes,

   1. an elementary textbook of law designed for beginners.

   2. Also called Institutes of Justinian. (initial capital letter),  an elementary treatise on Roman law in four books, forming one of the four divisions of the Corpus Juris Civilis.

6. something instituted.

institute

/ ˈɪnstɪˌtjuːt /

verb

1. to organize; establish

2. to initiate

   to institute a practice

3. to establish in a position or office; induct

4. to install (a clergyman) in a church

noun

1. an organization founded for particular work, such as education, promotion of the arts, or scientific research

2. the building where such an organization is situated

3. something instituted, esp a rule, custom, or precedent

Other Word Forms

• reinstitute verb (used with object)
• uninstituted adjective
• well-instituted adjective
• institutor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of institute¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin institūtus, past participle of instituere “to set, put up, establish,” equivalent to in- ”in” + -stitū- (combining form of statū-, stem of statuere “to place upright, set, stand” ) + -tus past participle suffix; in- ², stand

Word History and Origins

Origin of institute¹

C16: from Latin instituere, from statuere to place, stand

Example Sentences

He eliminated internal competition at the company by assigning each salesperson a specific geographic territory, and instituted sales quotas and contests.

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Smith secured a letter of interest from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, a U.S. government institute that funded projects in the developing world.

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Child safety organizations have pressured lawmakers to regulate AI companies and institute better safeguards for teens’ use of chatbots.

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The NBA recently instituted similar limits on prop wagers for two-way contract players, and the NFL reiterated its efforts to limit or prohibit certain prop bets.

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Between the bases and the institute, we thought the area would help us build our life and experience the American dream.

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Related Words

• appoint 
• come up with 
• create 
• enact 
• establish 
• inaugurate 
• initiate 
• install 
• introduce 
• launch 
• organize 
• set up