instruct

[ in-struhkt ]

See synonyms for: instruct instructed instructible on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to furnish with knowledge, especially by a systematic method; teach; train; educate.
to furnish with orders or directions; direct; order; command: The doctor instructed me to diet.

to furnish with information; inform; apprise.
Law. (of a judge) to guide (a jury) by outlining the legal principles involved in the case under consideration.

Origin of instruct

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin instructus, past participle of instruere “to equip, train, set in order,” equivalent to in- “in” + struc- (variant stem of struere “to put together”) + -tus past participle suffix; see in-²

synonym study For instruct

1. See teach.

Other words for instruct

1	tutor, coach; drill, discipline; indoctrinate; school
2	prescribe
3	enlighten

See synonyms for instruct on Thesaurus.com

Other words from instruct

in·struct·ed·ly, adverb
in·struct·ed·ness, noun
in·struct·i·ble, adjective
mis·in·struct, verb (used with object)
o·ver·in·struct, verb (used with object)
pre·in·struct, verb (used with object)
qua·si-in·struct·ed, adjective
re·in·struct, verb (used with object)
self-in·struct·ed, adjective
self-in·struct·ing, adjective
un·in·struct·i·ble, adjective
un·in·struct·ing, adjective
well-in·struct·ed, adjective

Words Nearby instruct

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use instruct in a sentence

Then you are instructed to lie on a hard bed—it looks like a sun bed.
The first murder | Katie McLean | August 19, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
A spokesman for Police Chief Dave Nisleit said he’s instructed officers, in the meantime, to stop writing seditious language tickets.
Morning Report: SDPD Says It Will Stop Seditious Language Tickets | Voice of San Diego | August 17, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
San Diego Police Chief Dave Nisleit has instructed officers to stop enforcing a century-old law that forbids “seditious language” as elected officials begin the process of repealing it.
SDPD Says it Will Stop Enforcing Seditious Language Law | Kate Nucci | August 17, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
Then the nurses track down and notify the person’s contacts who’ve potentially been exposed to the virus and instruct them how to quarantine.
The U.S. largely wasted time bought by COVID-19 lockdowns. Now what? | Jonathan Lambert | July 1, 2020 | Science News
Public agencies across California are now required to rewrite policies and instruct their officers that it is only reasonable to take a life in defense against an imminent physical threat.
MTS Says Its Officers Aren’t Bound by New State Use-of-Force Law | Jesse Marx and Lisa Halverstadt | June 25, 2020 | Voice of San Diego

He noted that some retail stores that benefit from Christmas sales still instruct employees to wish customers “Happy Holidays.”
A Field General in the War on Christmas | David Freedlander | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I had my 14-year-old daughter, Poppet, instruct me in how to watch an episode of Girls on my computer.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham | P. J. O’Rourke | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“The Commission did not instruct Mr. Wright to approve inaccurate wellbore completion reports,” according to the letter.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired. | David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In what new and meaningful things did his music instruct them?
The Stacks: John Coltrane’s Mighty Musical Quest | Nat Hentoff | October 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Sanford informs that he plans to get a lawyer, whom he will “instruct… not to fight back.”
Mark Sanford’s Epic Facebook Overshare | Olivia Nuzzi | September 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Did you personally instruct the New Orleans office to conduct the search of their records or cause such instructions to be given?
Warren Commission (10 of 26): Hearings Vol. X (of 15) | The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
If Chloe is not well informed, indiscreet and talkative Lycinion must take it upon herself to instruct Daphnis.
Urania | Camille Flammarion
Did you, yourself, personally authorize or instruct that the search be conducted which produced these telegrams?
Warren Commission (10 of 26): Hearings Vol. X (of 15) | The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Out of love for the people, Heaven appoints rulers to protect and instruct them.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I | John Lord
This granted, how can we know whether God wants to instruct us or to lay a snare for us?
Superstition In All Ages (1732) | Jean Meslier

British Dictionary definitions for instruct

instruct

/ (ɪnˈstrʌkt) /

verb(tr)

to direct to do something; order
to teach (someone) how to do (something)

to furnish with information; apprise
law, mainly British
- (esp of a client to his solicitor or a solicitor to a barrister) to give relevant facts or information to
- to authorize (a barrister or solicitor) to conduct a case on a person's behalf: to instruct counsel

Origin of instruct

C15: from Latin instruere to construct, set in order, equip, teach, from struere to build

Derived forms of instruct

instructible, adjective

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

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