instill
verb
in·still in-ˈstil 
instilled; instilling; instills
transitive verb
1
: to impart gradually
instilling a love of learning in children
2
: to cause to enter drop by drop
instill medication into the infected eye
instillation
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən
noun -(ˌ)sti-
instiller
in-ˈsti-lər
noun instillment
in-ˈstil-mənt
noun 
Synonyms
- breed
- enroot
- implant
- inculcate
- infix
- inseminate
- plant
- sow
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause
Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, the Commanders don't instill much confidence this season with Carson Wentz under center. 
Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2022 Stefanski, of course, has no choice but to exude confidence and instill it in his players. cleveland, 27 July 2022 Earlier this year, Irwin opened up about wanting to instill her love of wildlife in her child. Tristan Balagtas, PEOPLE.com, 7 Nov. 2021 Coaches teach young athletes about hard work, passion and good sportsmanship — skills that are just as important off the field — and can instill a lifelong love of the game. Nancy Clanton, ajc, 23 Aug. 2022 According to a news release, the mission of Learn to Skate USA is to provide a fun and positive experience that will instill a lifelong love of skating. Pioneer Press Staff, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2022 The objective, say those who deal with such cases, is to humiliate and degrade, to break the spirit of defenders, to shatter families and communities, to instill a sense of hopelessness and despair. Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2022 By meditating on the fragility of time, Stoics seek not to instill dread, but to reveal death and transience as natural aspects of the human experience that can be faced without anxiety. Melinda Latour, The Conversation, 16 Aug. 2022 First, provide a strong family structure, instill solid values and a powerful work ethic, and combine those elements with a first-rate education. Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2022 Stefanski, of course, has no choice but to exude confidence and instill it in his players. cleveland, 27 July 2022 Earlier this year, Irwin opened up about wanting to instill her love of wildlife in her child. Tristan Balagtas, PEOPLE.com, 7 Nov. 2021 Coaches teach young athletes about hard work, passion and good sportsmanship — skills that are just as important off the field — and can instill a lifelong love of the game. Nancy Clanton, ajc, 23 Aug. 2022 According to a news release, the mission of Learn to Skate USA is to provide a fun and positive experience that will instill a lifelong love of skating. Pioneer Press Staff, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2022 The objective, say those who deal with such cases, is to humiliate and degrade, to break the spirit of defenders, to shatter families and communities, to instill a sense of hopelessness and despair. Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2022 By meditating on the fragility of time, Stoics seek not to instill dread, but to reveal death and transience as natural aspects of the human experience that can be faced without anxiety. Melinda Latour, The Conversation, 16 Aug. 2022 First, provide a strong family structure, instill solid values and a powerful work ethic, and combine those elements with a first-rate education. Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin instillare, from in- + stillare to drip, from stilla drop
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
instill
verb
in·still in-ˈstil
instilled; instilling
: to put into the mind little by little
Patience with the ways of nature had been instilled in her by her father. Jean Craighead George, Julie of the Wolves
Jean Craighead George, Julie of the Wolves Medical Definition
instill
transitive verb
in·still in-ˈstil
instilled; instilling
: to cause to enter especially drop by drop
instill medication into the infected eye
instilling
verb
as in planting
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- planting
- breeding
- inculcating
- implanting
- embedding
- rooting
- sowing
- inseminating
- lodging
- infixing
- driving
- entrenching
- enrooting
- infusing
- imbuing
- investing
- hammering
- pounding
- ingraining
- inoculating
- suffusing
- imbedding
- engraining
- fixing
- intrenching
- steeping