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Some common synonyms of instruct<\/em> are discipline<\/em><\/a>, educate<\/em><\/a>, school<\/em><\/a>, teach<\/em><\/a>, and train<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"to cause to acquire knowledge or skill,\" instruct<\/em> suggests methodical or formal teaching.<\/p>

\/\/ instructs<\/em> raw recruits in military drill<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'discipline' be a reasonable alternative to 'instruct'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to instruct<\/em>, discipline<\/em><\/a> implies training in habits of order and precision.<\/p>

\/\/ a disciplined<\/em> mind<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'educate' a more appropriate choice than 'instruct'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words educate<\/em><\/a> and instruct<\/em> are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, educate<\/em> implies development of the mind.<\/p>

\/\/ more things than formal schooling serve to educate<\/em> a person<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'school' be used instead of 'instruct'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms school<\/em><\/a> and instruct<\/em> are close in meaning, school<\/em> implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.<\/p>

\/\/ schooled<\/em> the horse in five gaits<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'teach' instead of 'instruct'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of teach<\/em><\/a> and instruct<\/em> largely overlap; however, teach<\/em> applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.<\/p>

\/\/ taught<\/em> us a lot about our planet<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'train' be a better fit than 'instruct'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words train<\/em><\/a> and instruct<\/em> have much in common, train<\/em> stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.<\/p>

\/\/ trained<\/em> foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft<\/p>" } } ] }

instruct

verb

in-ˈstrÉ™kt How to pronounce instruct (audio)
Definition of instructnext
1
as in to teach
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field spent his military career instructing young pilots

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to inform
to give information to instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to tell
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the proctors instructed everyone to put their pencils down and hand in their tests

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word instruct different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of instruct are discipline, educate, school, teach, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

Where would discipline be a reasonable alternative to instruct?

While in some cases nearly identical to instruct, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

When is educate a more appropriate choice than instruct?

The words educate and instruct are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When can school be used instead of instruct?

While the synonyms school and instruct are close in meaning, school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When is it sensible to use teach instead of instruct?

The meanings of teach and instruct largely overlap; however, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

When might train be a better fit than instruct?

Although the words train and instruct have much in common, train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instruct Mesopotamian patients were instructed to seek divine help specifically for complaints of the ear, spleen, and pancreas. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 At 4 seconds, the tower again instructed the firetruck to stop, Brazy said. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026 Voters mark their choices, then sign and seal the ballot as instructed. —Terry Moseley, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026 All this while the cashier holds a computer screen to my face instructing me to tap 10%, 15%, 20% or other numbers. —Michel A. Ibrahim, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instruct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instruct
  1. teach
  2. inform
  3. tell
  4. educate
  5. advise
  6. order
  7. ask
  8. command
Verb
  • In conjunction with Hartman, assistant coach Jonathan Safir — Florida’s quintessential numbers guy in a building of numbers guys — leads the charge on teaching rebounding.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
  • An orphan born in 1893, Jones came to Minnesota at age 11 and taught himself engineering and mechanics.
    — Reg Chapman, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of teach
Verb
  • Presidents have historically leaned on their national security officials to inform the public about their wars.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • When Jobs returned to Apple after the first demo, he was crisply informed by Raskin that he’d been had — PARC had withheld from him most of its most innovative work.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of inform
Verb
  • Ivan Montijo, a b-boy breakdancer who teaches breakdancing to students in Stockton schools, told CBS Sacramento that this mural is a grassroots movement.
    — Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Southern Israel's main hospital received at least 175 wounded from Arad and Dimona, deputy director Roy Kessous told The Associated Press.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of tell
Verb
  • Developers — as well as Fort Worth District 3 council member Michael Crain — had organized the meeting after residents formed the 2871 Community Coalition to educate each other and build an organizing strategy as the development picks up steam.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
  • In order to troubleshoot the problem, crews are also educated on different planes and their components, including how many engines the aircraft may have or how many exit doors there are.
    — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of educate
Verb
  • Riders are advised to use alternative services, including the #22 Clark and #36 Broadway bus routes.
    — CBS Chicago Team, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
  • If symptoms suggest a possible emergency, the system may advise you to contact emergency services, such as calling 911.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of advise
Verb
  • He was ordered to be remanded and is due back in court on the conspiracy charge on May 4.
    — Katie Houlis, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
  • In the terms of his bond conditions, prosecutors ordered Ludwig to stay off the airport’s premises, according to the court document.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of order
Verb
  • Police said no additional information is available and asked the public to respect the reporting party's privacy.
    — Doug Myers, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Investigators asked anyone with information relevant to this investigation to call the Police Department’s Investigation Bureau at 916-478-8060.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of ask
Verb
  • When a lift is detected, the controller commands the suit’s actuators to apply supporting force.
    — Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
  • By 1929, his agency commanded $4,000 (more than $70,000 in today’s dollars) from The Saturday Evening Post for a single short story by Fitzgerald.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of command

Browse Nearby Words

institutions
instruct
instructed
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Cite this Entry

“Instruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instruct. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of instruct for Spanish Speakers

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