instruct

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   give instructions or directions for some task

   I instructed the students to work on their pronunciation.

2. 2
   verb

   To teach by giving instructions.

   Listen carefully when someone instructs you how to assemble the furniture.

3. 3
   verb

   To tell (someone) what they must or should do.

   Usage note: "instruct" is less forceful than "order", but weightier than "advise"

4. 4
   verb

   To give (one's own lawyer) legal instructions as to how they should act in relation to a particular issue; thereby formally appointing them as one's own legal representative in relation to it.

   If you're not careful, I'm going to instruct a solicitor over this.

5. 5
   adj

   Arranged; furnished; provided.

   For he had neither ship, instruct with oares, Nor men to fetch him from those stranger shores.

6. 6
   adj

   Instructed; taught; enlightened.

   Who ever by consulting at thy shrine Return’d the wiser, or the more instruct To flye or follow what concern’d him most, And run not sooner to his fatal snare?

7. 7
   verb

   impart skills or knowledge to

8. 8
   verb

   make aware of

Etymology

From Latin īnstrūctus, perfect passive participle of īnstruō (“I instruct; I arrange, furnish, or provide”).