instruct
verb
in·struct in-ˈstrəkt 
instructed; instructing; instructs
transitive verb
1
: to give knowledge to : teach, train
2
: to provide with authoritative information or advice
the judge instructed the jury
3
: to give an order or command to : direct
Synonyms
- educate
- indoctrinate
- lesson
- school
- teach
- train
- tutor
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She instructed us that we were to remain in our seats. The judge instructed the jury that they should disregard the testimony of the last witness. She advised him to instruct a solicitor.
Recent Examples on the Web In June, an FDA advisory panel voted 19-2 that the agency should instruct manufacturers to create new boosters containing a version of the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2. 
Matthew Herper, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 Arizona is allowing college students to step in and instruct children. Hannah Natanson, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022 Arizona is allowing college students to step in and instruct children. Hannah Natanson, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Aug. 2022 The investigation also found that the Dolphins did not intentionally lose games, nor did Ross instruct Flores to do so. Andrew Beaton, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 Kudos to all who gave up two weeks of their summer to plan and implement the program and to supervise and instruct the children. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 12 July 2022 Video from local media show floodwaters gushing down the hills as loudspeakers instruct people to leave the area. Shams Irfan, Washington Post, 9 July 2022 The fake site would then instruct the target to enter the one-time authentication code. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2022 So Quinn will instruct families on the proper way to use an inhaler, and gives out spacers, a tool that attaches to an inhaler to make receiving the medication easier. Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 15 Aug. 2022 See More
Matthew Herper, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 Arizona is allowing college students to step in and instruct children. Hannah Natanson, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022 Arizona is allowing college students to step in and instruct children. Hannah Natanson, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Aug. 2022 The investigation also found that the Dolphins did not intentionally lose games, nor did Ross instruct Flores to do so. Andrew Beaton, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 Kudos to all who gave up two weeks of their summer to plan and implement the program and to supervise and instruct the children. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 12 July 2022 Video from local media show floodwaters gushing down the hills as loudspeakers instruct people to leave the area. Shams Irfan, Washington Post, 9 July 2022 The fake site would then instruct the target to enter the one-time authentication code. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2022 So Quinn will instruct families on the proper way to use an inhaler, and gives out spacers, a tool that attaches to an inhaler to make receiving the medication easier. Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 15 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin instructus, past participle of instruere, from in- + struere to build — more at structure
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
instruct
verb
in·struct in-ˈstrəkt
instructed; instructing
1
: to give knowledge to : teach
A tutor instructs him in math.
2
: to give information to
I instructed him that school was closed.
3
: to give directions or commands to
She instructed us to stay seated.
Legal Definition
instruct
transitive verb
in·struct
: to provide (a jury) with explanation and directions regarding the law applicable to a case
the judge instructed the jury that the plaintiff bears the burden of proof
the jury was instructed to ignore the attorney's comments
intransitive verb
: to give instructions to a jury
the trial judge refused to instruct on manslaughter W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.instructing
verb
1
as in teaching
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field spent his military career instructing young pilots Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- teaching
- educating
- indoctrinating
- training
- schooling
- tutoring
- guiding
- informing
- lecturing
- coaching
- preparing
- mentoring
- lessoning
- preaching
- directing
- catechizing
- instilling
- inculcating
- introducing
- priming
- grounding
- leading
- drilling
- familiarizing
- reeducating
- initiating
- implanting
- showing
- moralizing
- edifying
- retraining
- enlightening
- habilitating
- rearing
- qualifying
- versing
- briefing
- homeschooling
- reteaching
- fitting
- reschooling
- imparting (to)
2
as in informing
to give information to instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system Synonyms & Similar Words
- informing
- advising
- telling
- teaching
- educating
- briefing
- familiarizing
- acquainting
- apprising
- notifying
- enlightening
- alerting
- versing
- clearing
- hipping
- filling in
- lecturing
- catching up
- advertising
- convincing
- assuring
- letting someone know
- keeping (someone) posted
- reassuring
- certifying
- cluing (in)
- clueing (in)
- wising (up)
- tutoring
- schooling
- warranting
- disabusing
- undeceiving
- disillusioning
- disclosing (to)
- disenchanting
- announcing (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misleading
- misinforming
3
as in telling
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
- telling
- ordering
- asking
- commanding
- directing
- advising
- enjoining
- bidding
- begging
- warning
- requesting
- adjuring
- charging
- appointing
- petitioning
- requiring
- authorizing
- supervising
- entreating
- forcing
- beseeching
- assigning
- managing
- controlling
- bossing (around)
- coercing
- commissioning
- counseling
- leading
- obliging
- superintending
- overseeing
- conducting
- compelling
- counselling
- constraining
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obeying
- observing
- following
- keeping
- minding
- complying (with)