1
as in to teach
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field
spent his military career instructing young pilots
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to inform
to give information to
instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to tell
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of instruct
Mayor Karen Bass has instructed the Los Angeles Police Department to step up deployment of officers in the area, including staffing checkpoints around the clock.
—
Tom Tapp, Deadline, 22 May 2025
Finally, Hay says, Smith offered some answers: Smith had instructed his staff at the medical clinics to stream their songs.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired News, 20 May 2025
James responded that the story stopped because he was instructed not to say anything that would incriminate himself.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 20 May 2025
That’s evidently false in the cases involving the Alien Enemies Act—last month, the Supreme Court instructed that challenges to Trump’s actions had to be brought as habeas cases.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for instruct
Tom Tapp, Deadline, 22 May 2025
Finally, Hay says, Smith offered some answers: Smith had instructed his staff at the medical clinics to stream their songs.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired News, 20 May 2025
James responded that the story stopped because he was instructed not to say anything that would incriminate himself.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 20 May 2025
That’s evidently false in the cases involving the Alien Enemies Act—last month, the Supreme Court instructed that challenges to Trump’s actions had to be brought as habeas cases.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for instruct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instruct
Verb
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The name is a riff on Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, from the X-Men, where Professor X teaches mutants, who are discriminated against by humans for being different, to control their powers.—
Sean Clancy,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
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One of the first lessons an old Cree taught me is something every beginner should know: When traveling (but not when hunting), break a twig on a low branch of a tree every 30 to 50 feet.—
Ted Updike,
Outdoor Life,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Attendees had been informed of the location just 48 hours in advance.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
31 May 2025
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Force torque sensors installed in most of its joints act a bit like a nervous system, informing the robot when key components sustain excessive loads to prevent it from damaging the arm or the drill.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2025
Verb
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In 2024, a highly intoxicated passenger on an All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo to Seattle reportedly bit a flight attendant in the arm an hour after takeoff, the Japanese airline told The Japan Times.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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More than 300 miscarriages had been attributed to a lack of nutrients, the ministry told CNN on Sunday.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
Verb
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The hands-on displays are designed to educate about teamwork, deduction, health care, coordination, agility and cognitive thinking, among others.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
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Many school districts pay private providers to educate students with special needs.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Whether ships will sail from homeports during storms, the cruise company advises guests and future cruisers to opt-in to text alerts to get messages regarding on schedule changes.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
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First, start with shattering functional silos, the researchers advise.—
Joe McKendrick,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
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One carried a 23-month sentence, and the other ordered five years of probation and a $200,000 fine, per AP.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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Williams ordered Attorney General Uthmeier and other defendants to promptly notify police agencies.—
Hannah Critchfield,
Sun Sentinel,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Madrid sources, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, believed his last months at PSG and somewhat difficult exit impacted his start at Madrid.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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The first document Walker Wright asks Presley to sign is an acknowledgement that Walker Wright is representing Presley personally while also acting as the lawyer who drafted the contracts between Kruse, Presley, and a third partner, business adviser Kevin Fialko.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Walz, while lacking the same national exposure that some of his potential rivals have commanded this year, remains actively engaged across the country.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
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The Queens: Expect three hours of hits as Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills command the stage at the United Center.—
Jennifer Day,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instruct. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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