instruct
[ in-struhkt ]
/ ɪnˈstrʌkt /
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.
Words nearby instruct
institutionary, institutive, institutor, instr., instroke, instruct, instruction, instructions, instructive, instructor, instructress
Origin of instruct
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin instructus past participle of instruere to equip, train, set in order, equivalent to in- in-2 + struc- (variant stem of struere to put together) + -tus past participle suffix
SYNONYMS FOR instruct
OTHER WORDS FROM instruct
synonym study for instruct
1. See teach.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for instruct
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 behalfto instruct counsel
Derived forms of instruct
instructible, adjectiveWord Origin for instruct
C15: from Latin instruere to construct, set in order, equip, teach, from struere to build
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