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

instruct

verb

/ɪnˈstrʌkt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they instruct	/ɪnˈstrʌkt/ /ɪnˈstrʌkt/
he / she / it instructs	/ɪnˈstrʌkts/ /ɪnˈstrʌkts/
past simple instructed	/ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/ /ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/
past participle instructed	/ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/ /ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/
-ing form instructing	/ɪnˈstrʌktɪŋ/ /ɪnˈstrʌktɪŋ/

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(formal) to tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way synonym direct, order
- instruct somebody to do something The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.
- instruct somebody where, what, etc… You will be instructed where to go as soon as the plane is ready.
- instruct somebody She arrived at 10 o'clock as instructed.
- instruct that… He instructed that a wall be built around the city.
- (British English also) He instructed that a wall should be built around the city.
- instruct (somebody) + speech ‘Put it there,’ she instructed (them).
Synonyms order
ordertell ▪ instruct ▪ direct ▪ commandThese words all mean to use your position of authority to say to somebody that they must do something.
order to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something:
The company was ordered to pay compensation to its former employee.
‘Come here at once!’ she ordered.
tell to say to somebody that they must or should do something:
He was told to sit down and wait.
Don’t tell me what to do!
instruct (rather formal) to tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way:
The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.
direct (formal) to give an official order:
The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.
command to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something:
He commanded his men to retreat.
order or command?Order is a more general word than command and can be used about anyone in a position of authority, such as a parent, teacher or government telling somebody to do something. Command is slightly stronger than order and is the normal word to use about an army officer giving orders, or in any context where it is normal to give orders without any discussion about them. It is less likely to be used about a parent or teacher.Patterns
- to order/tell/instruct/direct/command somebody to do something
- to order/instruct/direct/command that…
- to do something as ordered/told/instructed/directed/commanded
Extra Examples
- I took the pills as instructed.
- You were explicitly instructed to wait here.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- carefully
- explicitly
- specifically
- …
phrases
- as instructed
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instruct somebody (in something) (formal) to teach somebody something, especially a practical skill
- All our staff have been instructed in sign language.
[usually passive] (formal) to give somebody information about something
- be instructed that… We have been instructed that a decision will not be made before the end of the week.
instruct somebody (to do something) (law) to employ somebody to represent you in a legal situation, especially as a lawyer

Word Originlate Middle English (in sense (2)): from Latin instruct- ‘constructed, equipped, taught’, from the verb instruere, from in- ‘upon, towards’ + struere ‘pile up’.

See instruct in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee instruct in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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adjective

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