Instill
/ɪnˈstɪl/
verbB2
Definition
Instill means to put a thought, feeling, or habit gently and gradually into a person's mind or heart. It usually happens over time by teaching, example, or experience. The word is often used when talking about teaching important values or beliefs to children or others.
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See It in Action
To gradually teach or introduce ideas, feelings, or values
- •Parents try to instill good manners in their children.
- •The coach instilled a sense of teamwork in the players.
- •Teachers work hard to instill a love of reading in their students.
To put a small amount of something into something else (less common, more literal)
- •The doctor instilled drops in the patient’s eyes.
- •The artist instilled color carefully into the painting.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "instill" like "teach," but much slower and gentler—it is not just telling once, but slowly putting ideas inside someone’s mind.
- ✓Picture a small drop of water slowly falling into a cup until the cup fills up—that is like instilling an idea bit by bit.
- ✓It’s the feeling when a parent teaches kindness to a child little by little every day.
- ✓Sounds like "in-STEEL" → imagine putting strong steel inside a soft material slowly to make it stronger inside.
- ✓Think of stories where teachers or parents slowly help children learn to be honest or brave over many years.
- ✓NOT like "force" (which happens quickly and strongly), instill happens softly and over time.
- ✓NOT like "order" (which is a direct command), instill is more about gentle influence and care.
- ✓NOT like "learn" (which is what the student does), instill is what the teacher or parent does to help learning happen.
Try Other Words
- •Implant: to put an idea or feeling deeply inside someone (Use when meaning is very strong or permanent)
- •Inspire: to make someone want to do something or feel something (Use when the feeling or idea is exciting or motivating)
- •Introduce: to bring something new to someone’s mind (Use when the action is more about starting, not slowly growing)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "in-" (meaning "into") + root "still" (related to putting or placing)
- •Etymology: From Latin "instillare," meaning to drip or put in slowly
- •Historical development: Originally used for liquids slowly dropped, later used for ideas or feelings placed gently in the mind
- •Modern usage: Mostly used to describe teaching or slowly influencing thoughts, feelings, or habits
Reflect & Connect
•How can someone instill good habits in themselves or others without forcing them?
•Why is it important to instill values slowly rather than quickly?
Fill in the blanks
1.Parents often instill ___ in their children by teaching them every day.
2.To instill confidence, a teacher must ___ support and encouragement over time.
3.Instill is different from order because it does not use ___ force or commands.
4.When a coach instills teamwork, the team learns to ___ together better.
5.You can instill respect by showing ___ and kindness in your actions.
6.Instill usually happens ___ over time, not all at once.
7.If someone tries to instill an idea quickly, it might not ___ well in the person's mind.