verb
instruct
ihn-STRUHKT
verb
1
To teach someone a skill or subject.
"She instructs new pilots on emergency procedures."
2
To formally tell someone what to do, often with authority behind it.
"The judge instructed the jury to disregard the comment."
"He instructed his assistant to cancel all meetings for the day."
How to Use Instruct
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo teach, or to give someone a formal order or directive.
Common pairings
instruct a jury
instruct staff
instructed to
Word Forms
instructed past tense, instructs plural, instructs singular
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She _____ new pilots on emergency procedures.
Etymology
From Latin instructus, past participle of instruere, "to build, arrange, or equip."