Synonyms for instruct
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Teach — to teach by giving instructions
teach, educate, advise, acquaint, guide, enlighten, edify, train, discipline, tutor, drill, school, promulge, notify, nurture, inform dated, indoctrinate dated
2. Command — to tell (someone) what they must or should do
order, tell, command, direct, enjoin, dictate, charge, charre UK, commission, bid, prescribe, ordain
Other
Definitions
- v. 1
To teach by giving instructions.
Listen carefully when someone instructs you how to assemble the furniture.
- v. 2
To tell (someone) what they must or should do.
The doctor instructed me to keep my arm immobilised and begin physiotherapy.
Related words
Forms
- Past participle
- instructed
e.g. instructed → educated, advised, acquainted, guided…
Choose the right word
To teach is simply to communicate knowledge; to instruct (originally, to build in or into, put in order) is to impart knowledge with special method and completeness; instruct has also an authoritative sense nearly equivalent to command.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- teach Not only did he teach school, but he wrote novels.
- advise Please advise me of the date for the next meeting.
- educate Both parents and teachers educate their children.
- acquaint Let's acquaint her with our decision immediately.
- command We want you to take command of this unified force.
- enjoin I now enjoin you to take hands and make your vows.
By length
- 3 letters
- bid1
- 4 letters
- tell1
- 5 letters
- order2, train1, coach1, guide1, teach1, drill1, tutor2, edify3
- 6 letters
- school1, charge1, direct2, inform2, advise2, notify3, ordain2, enjoin2, charre
- 7 letters
- command2, educate3, dictate2, nurture2, apprise2
- 8 letters
- initiate4, acquaint2, promulge
- 9 letters
- prescribe2, enlighten3
- 10 letters
- commission3, discipline3
- 12 letters
- indoctrinate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (order2 = 2 syllables).