Meaning & use
instilling
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“instilling” is a form of “instill”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Gradually putting an idea, feeling or habit into someone's mind so that it stays.
Grammar: -ing form of instill; takes an object and usually in: instilling confidence in students.
Patterns
- instilling something in someone
- instilling someone with something
The coach is instilling discipline in the young players.
Parents spend years instilling good manners in their children.
The teacher is instilling a love of reading in her class.
verbtransitive
Causing a strong feeling, especially fear or respect, to develop in someone.
Grammar: -ing form of instill; the feeling is the object: instilling fear.
Patterns
- instilling fear in someone
- instilling respect in someone
The dictator ruled by instilling fear in the population.
The captain succeeded in instilling respect among the crew.
The film is instilling a sense of dread in audiences.
noununcountable
The act of putting an idea or feeling into someone's mind slowly over time.
Grammar: Uncountable noun use: the instilling of values.
Patterns
- the instilling of something
Schools are partly responsible for the instilling of civic values.
The instilling of trust takes time.
She focused on the instilling of good habits.
Word forms
| base form | instill |
|---|---|
| third person singular | instills |
| past tense | instilled |
Common combinations
- instilling confidence
- Her calm voice was instilling confidence in the nervous passengers.
- instilling discipline
- The program focuses on instilling discipline.
- instilling fear
- The bully succeeded in instilling fear.
- instilling values
- Instilling values in children begins at home.
- instilling a sense of
- The museum is instilling a sense of wonder in visitors.
Synonyms and how they differ
- inculcating
- Inculcating is more formal and suggests teaching through repeated lessons, often with some pressure.
- imparting
- Imparting means passing on knowledge or a quality, with less sense of gradual growth.
- fostering
- Fostering means encouraging something to grow, rather than putting it in.
- implanting
- Implanting suggests fixing something firmly in the mind, and it sounds more physical.
Opposites
Word family
- instill verb
- to put an idea or feeling gradually into someone
- instillation noun
- the act of instilling, also putting liquid in drops
- instilled adjective
- firmly established in someone's mind
- instillment noun
- the act of instilling a quality
Commonly confused: instilling or installing?
instilling vs installing
Installing means setting up equipment or software, while instilling is about ideas and feelings.
Practice
The new principal is committed to ___ a sense of pride in the school.
Choose one answer.
Instilling a sense of pride means gradually creating it in students. Installing is for equipment or software, so it is the tempting but wrong choice.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “instilling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.