instill
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instill
inculcate, introduce; insinuate; infuse slowly into the mind or feelings: instill a sense of fairness in a child
Not to be confused with:
install – invest, instate, place in position; connect for use: install an air conditioner; induct into office with ceremonies: install a new president
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
in·still
also in·stil (ĭn-stĭl′)tr.v. in·stilled, in·still·ing, in·stills also in·stils
1. To introduce by gradual, persistent efforts; implant: "Morality ... may be instilled into their minds" (Thomas Jefferson).
2. To pour in (medicine, for example) drop by drop.
[Middle English instillen, from Latin īnstīllāre : in-, into; see in-2 + stīllāre, to drip, drop (from stīlla, drop).]
in′stil·la′tion (ĭn′stə-lā′shən) n.
in·still′er n.
in·still′ment n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
in•still
or in•stil
(ɪnˈstɪl)v.t. -stilled, -still•ing or -stil•ling.
1. to infuse slowly or gradually: to instill courtesy in a child.
2. to put in drop by drop.
[1525–35; < Latin instillāre=in- in-2 + stillāre to drip]
in`stil•la′tion, n.
in•still′er, n.
in•still′ment, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
instill
Past participle: instilled
Gerund: instilling
| Imperative |
|---|
| instill |
| instill |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Verb | 1. |  instill - impart gradually; "Her presence instilled faith into the children"; "transfuse love of music into the students"contribute, lend, impart, add, bestow, bring - bestow a quality on; "Her presence lends a certain cachet to the company"; "The music added a lot to the play"; "She brings a special atmosphere to our meetings"; "This adds a light note to the program" breathe - impart as if by breathing; "He breathed new life into the old house" |
| 2. | instill - enter drop by drop; "instill medication into my eye" | |
| 3. | instill - produce or try to produce a vivid impression of; "Mother tried to ingrain respect for our elders in us" | |
| 4. | instill - teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions; "inculcate values into the young generation" drill - teach by repetition din - instill (into a person) by constant repetition; "he dinned the lessons into his students" | |
| 5. | instill - fill, as with a certain quality; "The heavy traffic tinctures the air with carbon monoxide" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
instill
also instilverb
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.