instill Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb impart gradually
    transfuse.
    • Her presence instilled faith into the children
    • transfuse love of music into the students
  2. verb enter drop by drop
    instil.
    • instill medication into my eye
  3. verb produce or try to produce a vivid impression of
    impress; ingrain.
    • Mother tried to ingrain respect for our elders in us
  4. verb teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
    infuse; inculcate.
    • inculcate values into the young generation
  5. verb fill, as with a certain quality
    infuse; impregnate; tincture.
    • The heavy traffic tinctures the air with carbon monoxide

WordNet

In*still" transitive verb
Etymology
L. instillare, instillatum; pref. in- in + stillare to drop, fr. stilla a drop: cf. F. instiller. See Distill.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Instilled ; present participle & verbal noun Instilling
Definitions
  1. To drop in; to pour in drop by drop; hence, to impart gradually; to infuse slowly; to cause to be imbibed.
    That starlight dews All silently their tears of love instill. Byron.
    How hast thou instilled Thy malice into thousands. Milton.
    Syn. -- To infuse; impart; inspire; implant; inculcate; insinuate.

Webster 1913