# instruction

/ˌɪnˈstɹəkʃən/ (US) · /ɪnstɹˈʌkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/instruction
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. teaching or training

noun · CEFR B1 · Formal

the act of teaching someone a subject or a skill.

For teachers: the process of providing information, knowledge, or training in a structured manner.

- The course provides basic instruction in how to use the software.
- The curriculum focuses on individualized instruction, ensuring that each student masters the fundamental concepts before moving to advanced theory.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun in this sense.

### 2. directions for use

noun · CEFR A2

a set of steps that tell you how to do or use something.

For teachers: a detailed set of directions provided to guide a user through a specific task or the operation of a device.

- I followed the instructions on the box to build the bookshelf.
- The assembly instructions were translated poorly, leading to significant confusion among the technicians during the initial setup phase.

### 3. an order

noun · CEFR B1

an official order telling someone what they must do.

For teachers: a specific command or directive issued by an authority figure or client.

- The soldiers had strict instructions not to fire unless attacked.
- The legal team awaited further instructions from the client before filing the formal appeal with the high court.

### 4. computing command

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a single command that tells a computer what to do.

For teachers: a basic command or operation defined by a computer's architecture that the processor can execute.

- The processor can execute millions of instructions every second.
- The compiler optimizes the code by reducing the total number of instructions required to perform the calculation, thereby increasing execution speed.

Usage: Countable in this technical context.

## Examples

- Please read the instruction before you start the machine.
- The teacher gave a clear instruction on how to complete the science experiment safely.
- The software architecture allows the processor to execute a complex instruction in a single clock cycle, significantly improving the overall efficiency of the system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.