instill

in·still

verb \in-ˈstil\

Definition of INSTILL

transitive verb

1

: to cause to enter drop by drop <instill medication into the infected eye>

2

: to impart gradually <instilling a love of learning in children>

— in·stil·la·tion \ˌin(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən, -(ˌ)sti-\ noun

— in·still·er \in-ˈsti-lər\ noun

— in·still·ment \-mənt\ noun

Examples of INSTILL

1. <a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause>

Origin of INSTILL

Middle English, from Latin instillare, from in- + stillare to drip, from stilla drop

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to INSTILL

Synonyms: breed, enroot, inculcate, infix, inseminate, implant, plant, sow

Related Words: drive, hammer, pound; embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), fix, lodge, root; imbue, infuse, ingrain (also engrain), inoculate, invest, steep, suffuse

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See Synonym Discussion at implant

Rhymes with INSTILL

anthill, at will, backfill, ball mill, bluegill, Brazil, breast drill, cranesbill, crossbill, de Mille, dentil, de-skill, distill, doorsill, downhill, duckbill, dullsville, dunghill, fire drill, foothill, freewill, free will, gin mill, goodwill, gristmill, handbill, hawksbill, hornbill, Huntsville, ill will, Knoxville, lambkill, landfill, limekiln, manille, McGill, Melville, mixed grill, molehill, mudsill, Nashville, no-till, pep pill, per mill, playbill, pot still, pug mill, quadrille, red squill, refill, roadkill, sawmill, Schuylkill, self-will, Seville, sheathbill, shoebill, show bill, sidehill, sigil, spadille, spoonbill, stabile, standstill, stock-still, storksbill, T-bill, treadmill, true bill, twin bill, twist drill, until, uphill, vaudeville, waxbill, waybill, windchill, windmill, Zangwill