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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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
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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
Verb
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The film also stars Dave Bautista as Steve, the show’s producer who informs Shelly that her longtime gig is coming to an end.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
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Parents and teachers were not informed of that probe or her indictment on 19 charges in August 2024, and only discovered this information two months ago when local outlet WHYY broke the story.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
16 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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Trump told reporters Sunday that Putin is killing a lot of people.—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
26 May 2025
Verb
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From tackling the country’s vicious dictatorship to honing in on intimate personal narratives while shattering taboos, Chilean documentary filmmakers continue to push boundaries and adapt to the pulse of broader social cues, committing to wide-ranging themes that not only educate, but enthral.—
Holly Jones,
Variety,
17 May 2025
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Robots surveil the streets as police officers, educate students as teachers and deliver packages as postal employees.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
Verb
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises residents in areas with excessive heat to wear light clothing, drink lots of water, use their air conditioning and avoid from exerting themselves outside in order to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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The release advises anyone with further information to contact the North Little Rock Department Tip Line at (501) 680-8439 or Detective Adam Williams at 501-771-7167.—
Parker Mancino,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2025
Verb
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As part of his administration’s campaign against DEI programs, Trump has also ordered federal agencies, including FERC, to stop considering environmental justice in decision-making.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2025
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Showtime has ordered an eighth season of its drama The Chi, putting the show into rare company at the outlet.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
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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Building access is about forming genuine connections with other influencers, thought leaders and gatekeepers who already command attention.—
John Knotts,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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Researchers led by Elise Wright Knutsen, an atmospheric physicist at the University of Oslo, waited for the right conditions and commanded Perseverance to look up at exactly the right time.—
Lillian Ali,
Smithsonian Magazine,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instruct. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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