instruct
//ɪnˈstɹʌkt//
Forms
- present (v1)
- instruct
- past (v2)
- instructed
- past participle (v3)
- instructed
- present participle
- instructing
- 3rd person singular
- instructs
Definitions
1.To teach by giving instructions.
- Listen carefully when someone instructs you how to assemble the furniture.
- What a dishonour’s this, to me, to have so Dull a Father, that needs to be instructed in his Duty.
2.To tell (someone) what they must or should do.
- What, shall a child instruct you what to do?
- The doctor instructed me to keep my arm immobilised and begin physiotherapy.
- Observing that the Christ Child’s nose was running, she deftly wiped it; then she held the handkerchief in place, while instructing him to “blow.”
3.To give (one's own lawyer) legal instructions as to how they should act in relation to a particular issue; thereby formally appointing them as one's own legal representative in relation to it.
- If you're not careful, I'm going to instruct a solicitor over this.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4711
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Latin īnstrūctus, perfect passive participle of īnstruō (“I instruct; I arrange, furnish, or provide”).