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Synonyms

abet, ferment, foment, incite, provoke, raise, stir, whip—more at INCITE

in·sti·ga·tion noun 1 : an act of instigating or the state of being instigated

2 : something that instigates

Synonyms

boost, encouragement, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitement, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulus, yeast—more at IMPULSE

in·sti·ga·tor noun : one that instigates

in·stil chiefly British variant of INSTILL

in·still also in·stil verb in·stilled; in·still·ing 1 : to cause to enter drop by drop

2 : to impart gradually

1instinct noun 1 : a natural aptitude

2 : a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason; also : behavior originating below the conscious level

2instinct adjective : IMBUED, INFUSED

in·stinc·tive adjective 1 : of, relating to, or being instinct

2 : prompted by natural instinct or propensity : arising spontaneously

— in·stinc·tive·ly adverb

in·stinc·tu·al adjective : of, relating to, or based on instinct

1institute verb -tut·ed; -tut·ing 1 : to establish in a position or office

2 : ORGANIZE

3 : to bring about the beginning of : INAUGURATE, INITIATE

Synonyms

constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, introduce, launch, pioneer, set up, start—more at FOUND

2institute noun 1 : an elementary principle recognized as authoritative; also, pl : a collection of such principles and precepts

2 : an organization for the promotion of a cause : ASSOCIATION

3 : an educational institution

4 : a brief course of instruction on a particular field

Synonyms

association, brotherhood, club, college, congress, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institution, league, order, organization, society—more at ASSOCIATION

in·sti·tu·tion noun 1 : an act of originating, setting up, or founding

2 : an established practice, law, or custom

3 : a society or corporation esp. of a public character

4 : ASYLUM 3

— in·sti·tu·tion·al adjective

— in·sti·tu·tion·al·ize verb

— in·sti·tu·tion·al·ly adverb

Synonyms

establishment, foundation, institute; also body, collective, group; corporation, enterprise; charity, philanthropy; think tank

instr abbreviation 1 instructor

2 instrument; instrumental

in·struct verb [ORIGIN: ME, fr. L instructus, pp. of instruere, fr. struere to build]

1 : to give knowledge to : TEACH

2 : to provide with authoritative information or advice : INFORM

3 : to give an order or a command to

Synonyms

[1] educate, indoctrinate, school, teach, train, tutor—more at TEACH

[2] acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, tell, wise—more at ENLIGHTEN

[3] bid, boss, charge, command, direct, enjoin, order, tell—more at COMMAND

in·struc·tion noun 1 : LESSON, PRECEPT

2 : a direction calling for compliance : COMMAND, ORDER

3 plural : DIRECTIONS

4 : the action, practice, or profession of a teacher

Synonyms

[2] behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, edict, order, word—more at COMMAND

[4] education, teaching, training, tutelage—more at EDUCATION

in·struc·tion·al adjective 1 : relating to, serving for, or promoting instruction

2 : containing or conveying instruction or information

in·struc·tive adjective : carrying a lesson

Synonyms

educational, informative—more at INFORMATIVE

in·struc·tor noun : one that instructs; especially : a college teacher below professorial rank

— in·struc·tor·ship noun

Synonyms

educator, pedagogue, schoolteacher, teacher—more at TEACHER

in·stru·ment noun 1 : a device used to produce music

2 : a means by which something is done

3 : a device for doing work and esp. precision work

4 : a legal document (as a deed)

5 : a device used in navigating an airplane

— in·stru·ment verb

Synonyms

[2] agency, agent, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, organ, vehicle—more at AGENT

[3] device, implement, tool, utensil—more at