Library / English Dictionary

INSTILL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fill, as with a certain quality

Example:

The heavy traffic tinctures the air with carbon monoxide

Synonyms:

impregnate; infuse; instill; tincture

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "instill" is one way to...):

fill; fill up; make full (make full, also in a metaphorical sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions

Example:

inculcate values into the young generation

Synonyms:

inculcate; infuse; instill

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "instill" is one way to...):

drill (teach by repetition)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "instill"):

din (instill (into a person) by constant repetition)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

instilling (teaching or impressing upon the mind by frequent instruction or repetition)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Produce or try to produce a vivid impression of

Example:

Mother tried to ingrain respect for our elders in us

Synonyms:

impress; ingrain; instill

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "instill" is one way to...):

affect; impress; move; strike (have an emotional or cognitive impact upon)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

instilling (teaching or impressing upon the mind by frequent instruction or repetition)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Enter drop by drop

Example:

instill medication into my eye

Synonyms:

instil; instill

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "instill" is one way to...):

enter; infix; insert; introduce (put or introduce into something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

instillation (the introduction of a liquid (by pouring or injection) drop by drop)

instillation (a liquid that is instilled drop by drop)

instillator (medical apparatus that puts a liquid into a cavity drop by drop)

instillment (the introduction of a liquid (by pouring or injection) drop by drop)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Impart gradually

Example:

transfuse love of music into the students

Synonyms:

instill; transfuse

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "instill" is one way to...):

add; bestow; bring; contribute; impart; lend (bestow a quality on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "instill"):

breathe (impart as if by breathing)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

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