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Definition of instill

instill

/ɪnˈstɪl/
(UK: instil)
in · still
Adjective:instilled
•
Past Simple:instilled
•
Past Participle:instilled
•
Present Participle:instilling
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instill Lexical Profile

instill Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To gradually but firmly establish an idea, attitude, or quality in a person's mind.

Example

"Good teachers strive to instill a lifelong love of learning in their students."

2

To put a liquid or substance into something gradually, drop by drop (especially in medical contexts).

Example

"The nurse had to instill two drops of sterile saline solution into the patient's affected eye."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for instill
Antonyms
View all antonyms for instill

Word Nuance & Usage

Spelled 'instill' in American English and 'instil' in British English, though both inflect with a double 'l' as 'instilled' and 'instilling'.

• Rhymes for instill

• Nearby Words

instigation
instigative
instigator
instill
instillation
instinct
instinctive

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late Middle English period from Latin instillare ('to put in by drops'), formed from in- ('into') and stillare ('to drip'), from stilla ('a drop').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Instill. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/instill
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