Meaning & use
institute
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Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
To set up or begin an official rule, system or process.
Grammar: Takes an object: institute a policy.
Patterns
- institute something
- institute a review
The city instituted a ban on plastic bags last year.
The school will institute a new dress code in September.
Lawyers instituted proceedings against the firm.
nouncountable
An organization set up for study, research or teaching in a particular field.
Grammar: Often part of a name: the Institute of Technology.
Patterns
- an institute for something
- an institute of something
She works at a research institute for marine biology.
The institute offers courses in design.
He studied at a technical institute in Boston.
nouncountableBritish
A professional or specialist organization that people join, usually to promote a subject.
Grammar: Frequently with a capital letter: the Chartered Institute.
Patterns
- a member of the institute
He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants.
The institute publishes guidance for its members.
The institute holds an annual conference.
Word forms
| third person singular | institutes |
|---|---|
| past tense | instituted |
| past participle | instituted |
| -ing form | instituting |
Common combinations
- institute a policy
- The company instituted a four-day week.
- institute reforms
- The government instituted reforms.
- research institute
- A research institute studies climate change.
- institute proceedings
- The bank instituted proceedings to recover the money.
- institute of technology
- She studied at an institute of technology.
Synonyms and how they differ
- establish
- Establish is general and can mean setting up anything long-lasting, while institute implies an official, rule-based start.
- introduce
- Introduce is neutral and can describe a minor change, but institute suggests a formal measure.
- launch
- Launch suggests starting a project with energy, often publicly.
- enact
- Enact is for laws and is narrower than institute.
Opposites
Word family
- institution noun
- an established organization or custom
- institutional adjective
- relating to an institution
- institutionalize verb
- to make something an established practice
- institutor noun
- one who sets something up; rare
Commonly confused: institute or institution?
institute vs institution
An institution is an established organization such as a hospital or custom, while an institute is a body for a specific field of study.
Practice
The new principal plans to ______ a weekly review of student progress.
Choose one answer.
Institute means to set up an official procedure, which fits a weekly review. Insist, instruct and inspire do not take this object in this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “institute”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.