teach

Synonym Chooser

How is the word teach different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of teach are discipline, educate, instruct, school, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

When can discipline be used instead of teach?

The meanings of discipline and teach largely overlap; however, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

When is educate a more appropriate choice than teach?

While the synonyms educate and teach are close in meaning, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When could instruct be used to replace teach?

The synonyms instruct and teach are sometimes interchangeable, but instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

Where would school be a reasonable alternative to teach?

In some situations, the words school and teach are roughly equivalent. However, school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When is it sensible to use train instead of teach?

The words train and teach are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of teach As a human being at this moment, Eunice teaches us about being civilized. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025 Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025 Cameron started his teaching career at R. T. Coles Vocational School and taught at Lincoln High School before landing a position heading the language and literature department at Penn Valley Community College. Mará Rose Williams, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025 Her mother Colleen, however, taught the junior guard how to play basketball. Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for teach 

Thesaurus Entries Near teach

Cite this Entry

“Teach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teach. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on teach

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