Word
instructive
Phoneticsin·struc·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈstɹəktɪv/
UK/ɪnstɹˈʌktɪv/
Definition
adj. helpful for learning or understanding something. You use this to describe a book, a lesson, or an experience that teaches you a new skill or fact.
adj. providing useful information or knowledge; helpful for learning. Often used to describe experiences or texts that offer practical lessons or insights.
Examples
“The documentary was very instructive about local history.”
“The workshop provided an instructive look at how to fix common plumbing leaks without calling a professional.”
“While the lecture was technically difficult, it was ultimately instructive, as it clarified several concepts that had previously seemed impossible to grasp.”
Examples
simple
“The documentary was very instructive about local history.”
contextual
“The workshop provided an instructive look at how to fix common plumbing leaks without calling a professional.”
complex
“While the lecture was technically difficult, it was ultimately instructive, as it clarified several concepts that had previously seemed impossible to grasp.”
Real-World Examples
“Yet they offer an instructive lesson about the irrational nature of bigotry.” “You close with Nye Bevan’s idea of housing as an essential service like the NHS, and the comparison is instructive.” Etymology
From instruct + -ive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/instructive