Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To introduce by gradual, persistent efforts; implant.
- transitive verb To pour in (medicine, for example) drop by drop.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To drop in; to pour in drop by drop.
- transitive verb To infuse (knowledge or attitudes) into the mind of another, slowly or gradually; to impart gradually; to cause to be imbibed.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To cause a quality to become part of someone's nature.
- verb To pour in (medicine, for example) drop by drop.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb produce or try to produce a vivid impression of
- verb enter drop by drop
- verb impart gradually
- verb fill, as with a certain quality
- verb teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Explainer "quoted a line from the Quran in translation along with a note explaining that the word instill was misspelled in the original.
Slate Magazine 2009
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Because, you know what, I think your parents kind of instill that in you.
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To do that, he needs to find a talented performer who has a sound work ethic, which he said is something he wants to "instill" in the competition.
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To do that, he needs to find a talented performer who has a sound work ethic, which he said is something he wants to "instill" in the competition.
SFGate: Top News Stories By LYNN ELBER 2011
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Some interesting Dubya-only pronunciations, which may also explain the usage of "instill" instead of "install", West Point, New York, Dec. 9, 2008
Fresh Dubya RSS Feed 2009
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He reported that the various branches of the Iranian military had no tradition of cooperation because the Shah wanted to keep them in isolation from each other, and we could do little to instill collaboration.
The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010
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Eugene Debs, the principal leader of the Socialist Party at the turn of the century, declared it his mission to “plant benevolence in the heart of stone, instill the love of sobriety into the putrid mind of debauchery, and create industry out of idleness.”
A Renegade History of the United States Thaddeus Russell 2010
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It felt like the seiki that I had helped instill in my son years ago in our home when he was suffering from bronchitis.
The Bushman Way of Tracking God PhD Bradford Keeney 2010
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He reported that the various branches of the Iranian military had no tradition of cooperation because the Shah wanted to keep them in isolation from each other, and we could do little to instill collaboration.
The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010
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He reported that the various branches of the Iranian military had no tradition of cooperation because the Shah wanted to keep them in isolation from each other, and we could do little to instill collaboration.
The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010
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