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Definition of instil verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

instil

verb
 
/ɪnˈstɪl/
 
/ɪnˈstɪl/
(British English)
(North American English instill)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they instil
 
/ɪnˈstɪl/
 
/ɪnˈstɪl/
(North American English) present simple I / you / we / they instill
 
/ɪnˈstɪl/
 
/ɪnˈstɪl/
he / she / it instils
 
/ɪnˈstɪlz/
 
/ɪnˈstɪlz/
(North American English) he / she / it instills
 
/ɪnˈstɪlz/
 
/ɪnˈstɪlz/
past simple instilled
 
/ɪnˈstɪld/
 
/ɪnˈstɪld/
past participle instilled
 
/ɪnˈstɪld/
 
/ɪnˈstɪld/
-ing form instilling
 
/ɪnˈstɪlɪŋ/
 
/ɪnˈstɪlɪŋ/
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  1. to gradually put an idea or attitude into somebody's mind; to make somebody feel, think or behave in a particular way over a period of time
    • instil something (in/into somebody) to instil confidence/discipline/fear into somebody
    • instil somebody with something His father instilled him with a desire to fight injustice and corruption.
    Word Originlate Middle English (originally meaning to drop a substance into something as liquid drops): from Latin instillare, from in- ‘into’ + stillare ‘to drop’ (from stilla ‘a drop’).
previously
adverb
 
 
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