instruct Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb impart skills or knowledge to
    teach; learn.
    • I taught them French
    • He instructed me in building a boat
  2. verb give instructions or directions for some task
    • She instructed the students to work on their pronunciation
  3. verb make aware of
    apprise; apprize.
    • Have the students been apprised of the tuition hike?

WordNet

In*struct" adjective
Etymology
L. instructus, p. p. of instruere to furnish, provide, construct, instruct; pref. in- in, + struere. See Structure.
Definitions
  1. Arranged; furnished; provided. Obs. "He had neither ship instruct with oars, nor men." Chapman.
  2. Instructed; taught; enlightened. Obs. Milton.
In*struct" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Instructed; present participle & verbal noun Instructing
Definitions
  1. To put in order; to form; to prepare. Obs.
    They speak to the merits of a cause, after the proctor has prepared and instructed the same for a hearing. Ayliffe.
  2. To form by communication of knowledge; to inform the mind of; to impart knowledge or information to; to enlighten; to teach; to discipline.
    Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth. Shak.
  3. To furnish with directions; to advise; to direct; to command; as, the judge instructs the jury.
    She, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Matt. xiv. 8.
    Take her in; instruct her what she has to do. Shak.
    Syn. -- To teach; educate; inform; train; discipline; indoctrinate; direct; enjoin.

Webster 1913