instruct
Americanverb (used with object)
-
instructs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
instructed,
past participle, past
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instructing
present participle
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to furnish with knowledge, especially by a systematic method; teach; train; educate.
- Synonyms:
- school, indoctrinate, discipline, drill, coach, tutor
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to furnish with orders or directions; direct; order; command.
The doctor instructed me to diet.
- Synonyms:
- prescribe
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to furnish with information; inform; apprise.
- Synonyms:
- enlighten
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Law. (of a judge) to guide (a jury) by outlining the legal principles involved in the case under consideration.
verb
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to direct to do something; order
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to teach (someone) how to do (something)
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to furnish with information; apprise
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law
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(esp of a client to his solicitor or a solicitor to a barrister) to give relevant facts or information to
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to authorize (a barrister or solicitor) to conduct a case on a person's behalf
to instruct counsel
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Synonym Usage
See teach.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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instructednessnoun
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misinstructverb (used with object)
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overinstructverb (used with object)
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preinstructverb (used with object)
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reinstructverb (used with object)
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instructibleadjective
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quasi-instructedadjective
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self-instructedadjective
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self-instructingadjective
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uninstructibleadjective
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uninstructingadjective
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well-instructedadjective
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instructedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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instructsimple
-
instructssimple
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have instructedperfect
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has instructedperfect
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am instructingprogressive
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are instructingprogressive
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is instructingprogressive
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have been instructingperfect progressive
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has been instructingperfect progressive
Past
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instructedsimple
-
had instructedperfect
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was instructingprogressive
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were instructingprogressive
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had been instructingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
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
Explanation
This website is designed to instruct visitors about the meaning of words and their correct usage. To instruct is to give instructions, to teach. Teachers are often called instructors because their job is to instruct, to give knowledge or instructions. The subtle difference between "teach" and instruct is that you can teach almost anything: concepts, ideas, theories or, say, history. When you instruct someone, you're giving them a set of tools or tasks to do something specific. That's why furniture, toys, and model rocket kits come with instructions: they instruct you how to assemble them.
Vocabulary lists containing instruct
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 3
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Words to Know and Academic Words, Unit 5
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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:
It added that government agencies in the threatened coastal areas should instruct populations at risk, and advised people located in those areas to "stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities".
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
“Dr. Kil did not instruct students to violate any campus policies or engage in any specific behavior,” the lawsuit states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
It has also asked the court to instruct Canadian immigration authorities to allow Partey to submit a new visa application.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
Pauken was also tasked to instruct the would-be sources on what information to gather and provide Cathy with reports from these assets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
Claudius led me to the stage, the broad foyer where Hamlet often passed and the very place where I had watched him instruct the players.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Another charge instructs lawmakers to examine ways to educate Texans about their right to practice their religion “in all settings, including, but not limited to: education, workplace, government, and healthcare.”
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
Their lawsuit also claims that when an account is shut down for dangerous behavior, OpenAI instructs the individual on how to resume usage, including tips on how to circumvent the 30-day suspension period.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
When Little John struggles to describe his dream girl, Robin instructs his protegee to sketch an image with words.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
Dr. Becky instructs listeners to take a symbolic action—no matter where you are, to take a step forward.
From Slate ● May 10, 2026
Dropping our bags, the mother hands me the baby, instructs me to look after her kids, and leads Chou to the garden.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
According to his lawyers, Tan "repeatedly instructed recruits and his team not to bring or disclose former employers' confidential information."
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
Security services have been instructed to quarantine the Yingfeng 2 offshore in line with WHO standards to prevent potential spread of the virus into the capital.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Harvey instructed the two women to go rent a U-Haul and meet the driver to collect the UPS packages at designated locations, which were also relayed to Cuellar, Sternin said in court.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Viewers are then instructed to roast the fish at 400 degrees for eight minutes.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
I start along Buckingham Road with my torch pointed down, as they’ve instructed us to do.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Rather than directly instructing participants to sit in a particular way, the team altered the environment so that posture changed without the participants knowing why.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
As the most recent due date approached this past January, Congress stepped in, instructing the agency to delay enforcement of the Food Traceability Rule until July 20, 2028.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Proceeds from the auction go to benefit the Edge Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching English and instructing professionals in Western business and educational methods.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
It was the first resolution of its kind to clear Congress instructing a president to end a military action since the War Powers Resolution of 1973 was enacted.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
He spent nearly an hour and a half instructing the jurors about the decision they would be making.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
