instill

[ in-stil ]
See synonyms for: instillinstills on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),in·stilled, in·stil·ling.
  1. to infuse slowly or gradually into the mind or feelings; insinuate; inject: to instill courtesy in a child.

  2. to put in drop by drop.

Origin of instill

1
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin instillāre, equivalent to in- in-2 + stillāre “to drip”; see distill
  • Also especially British, in·stil .

Other words for instill

Other words from instill

  • in·still·er, noun
  • in·still·ment, noun
  • pre·in·still, verb (used with object)

Words that may be confused with instill

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use instill in a sentence