English Reference
Verb

instill

v.
C1 Advanced US /ˌɪnˈstɪɫ/ UK /ɪnstˈɪl/ in·still UK spelling instil, instilled, instills

v.to give someone a feeling, belief, or quality over a long period of time. It is often used when a parent or teacher teaches a child a value.

v.to implant or impress a feeling, belief, or quality in someone through persistent effort. Transitive; typically used in the context of education or moral development.


SIMPLE

Parents try to instill a love of reading in their children.

CONTEXTUAL

The school curriculum is designed to instill a sense of responsibility and community service in every student.

COMPLEX

Through decades of rigorous training and mentorship, the master sought to instill in his apprentices a level of discipline that would define their entire professional careers.

Victoria and her husband , Albert, were early adopters of photography , instilling a love of the new technology in their many royal relatives.

Smithsonian Magazine· 16 Jul 2026

I think it’s reasonable to interpret this jumbling as a tactic intended to chill protected activity by instilling fear in those who disagree with the Trump administration’s policies.

The Conversation· 9 Jul 2026

Borrowed from Latin instillō.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin instillō
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated