instruct
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to tell someone to do something in a formal or official way.
to give an authoritative order or command to someone. Transitive; typically followed by an object and a to-infinitive.
Simple“The manager instructed the staff to lock the doors at exactly 9:00 PM.”
In context“The judge instructed the jury to disregard the witness's last statement, as it was based on hearsay rather than direct evidence.”
UsageCommonly used in the pattern 'instruct someone to do something'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to teach someone how to do something, especially a practical skill.
to provide systematic information or training in a particular subject or skill.
Simple“She spent the afternoon instructing the new students in basic first aid.”
In context“The manual is designed to instruct users in the assembly of the modular shelving unit without the need for specialised tools.”
UsageOften takes the preposition 'in' when referring to a subject or skill.
- 03 C1 Advanced
to give a lawyer the information and authority to act for you.
to give a solicitor or barrister formal information and instructions to act on one's behalf in a legal matter.
Simple“The company has instructed a firm of solicitors to handle the merger.”
In context“After the accident, the family instructed a senior barrister to represent their interests during the public inquiry.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is specific to legal contexts, particularly in the UK and Commonwealth systems.
“In around a quarter of complaints, the NTA said licence holders were instructed about their legal rights and responsibilities.”
“The orchestra is often instructed to play slightly sharp or flat, their microtonal clashes lending the work a spectral quality.”
From Latin īnstrūctus, perfect passive participle of īnstruō (“I instruct; I arrange, furnish, or provide”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.