Word
instruct
Meanings
to teach someone a subject or skill by giving information and guidance
to officially tell someone what to do; to give directions or orders
Definition
To instruct means to teach someone how to do something or to give them official directions.
To instruct is to provide clear information or training so someone knows what to do or how to do it. It can refer to teaching a skill, explaining a process, or giving formal orders in a work or organizational setting. The focus is usually on clarity, authority, and practical guidance.
Examples
- I instruct new team members on the workflow before they start handling client requests.
- You should instruct the technician carefully, because a small misunderstanding can delay the whole installation.
- She instructs her students to compare the two articles and defend their conclusions with evidence.
- They instructed the staff to keep the entrance clear while the equipment was being moved.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "instruct" with "instruct about" and should use "instruct someone to do something" or "instruct someone in something" instead.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
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- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.