Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INSTILL
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If the word instill conjures up for you some vague memories of applying to colleges, it's probably because you had to write about the values of humility and kindness that your parents instilled in you, or the strong work ethic that your summer jobs instilled in you, and yadda yadda yadda. Talking about instillation can be pretty cheesy.
But it's such a useful word. Let's spend some time with it.
First, let's dissect it to see how it literally means "drop in:" the still part means "drop." Imagine your parents holding a dropper full of, you know, liquid humility and kindness, and dropping it into your eyes and ears, drop by drop.
You can see why instill is related to the words distill and still (as in "whiskey still," but not as in "Please sit still" or "I'm still standing better than I ever did").
Let's recall some less-cheesy synonyms of instill:
1. From a Latin word for "moisten," and closely related to the word imbibe, is the word imb__, meaning "to deeply influence or to completely fill." If your parents imb__d you with humility and kindness, that's lovely.
2. From a Latin word for "stamp in or tread down" is the word in____ate, meaning "to force an idea into a person's mind, usually by teaching it over and over in a harsh or serious way." If your parents in____ated humility and kindness on you, that's a little ironic, as in____ation is not exactly a kind or humble way of teaching.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
make your point with...
"INSTILL"
This word has Latin roots that mean "to drop in."
Literally speaking, to instill something is to put it in one drop at a time. "Instill two drops of this medicine into each eye."
And figuratively speaking, to instill something is to put it into someone's mind or heart little by little, again and again for a long time, as if you're putting it in one drop at a time.
Pronunciation:
in STILL
Part of speech:
Verb, the transitive kind: you instill some quality in someone. Or, flip that around: you instill in someone some quality.
Other forms:
instilled, instilling;
instillation (my preference) or instillment;
instiller(s);
instillatory
How to use it:
This common word generally has a positive tone, even a corny one.
So if you're willing to risk sounding sentimental or gung-ho, talk about people, actions, words, events, lessons, literature, and experiences that instill good things in people.
What kinds of things? Traits, beliefs, values, feelings, qualities, habits, and behaviors.
More specifically, what kinds of things? Hope, pride, discipline, confidence, optimism, good manners, a strong work ethic, a passion for learning, a sense of gratitude for nature, a respect for human and animal life in all its forms, etc.
Finally, it's rare, but we can talk about instilling harmful things: doubt in our own potential to succeed, fear of people who don't look like us, guilt for things we have no control over, and so on. But instilling is usually positive. "Jonas's parents instilled in him the habit of choosing words with the greatest of precision."
examples:
"My mother was a chef. She was an accountant turned caterer, and she operated the catering company from our one bedroom apartment in the Bronx. So my sister and I had to become her first two employees. That instilled a lot of things in me in an early age: entrepreneurialism, creativity and a passion for food."
— Kwame Onwuachi, as quoted by D. Watkins, Salon, 18 August 2019
"Stevens was clearly the more pivotal poetic influence, instilling in Lansing a capacity for baroque exuberance. There are passages throughout Heavenly Tree, Northern Earth that evoke Stevens more strongly than any other poetry I've read: 'Dreamer of purified fury and fabulous habit, / your eyes of deserted white afternoons / target, stiffen, riot with unicorn candor.'"
— Garrett Caples, "Casting Spells," Poetry Foundation, 19 December 2018
has this page helped you understand "instill"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "instill" without saying "impart" or "teach."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "(Describe a situation.) On one hand, (some authority figure, like a babysitter, an older sibling, a parent, a teacher, a boss, or a government) wants to instill (some good thing). On the other hand, _____."
Example 1: "Taylor spews questions all day long, like 'What is this symbol? Why is it painted white? Why does it look like someone sitting on a circle?' and I do love it. On one hand, I want to instill knowledge and common sense in her. On the other hand, sometimes we just need to get out of the hot, sunny parking lot."
Example 2: "Every time the economy trembles, the president and White House staff face a quandary. On one hand, they wish to instill confidence and project optimism. On the other hand, they need to be ready with the right policy plans in case things do start to sour." — Neil Irwin, The New York Times, 24 August 2019
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
Our game this month: Anagrams!
Rearrange the letters in the given word to form a word we've studied before. Try to recall its meaning, too.
For example, if I give you DYED, you give me EDDY. If I give you THREAD, you give me DEARTH. And if I give you COTERIES, you give me ESOTERIC.
Try this one today: MANATEE.
Give yourself 5 points if you can figure out the word without clues. To reveal the clues, hover over the blue text below.
Give yourself 4 points if you figure it out after peeking at the part of speech: Verb.
Give yourself 3 points if you figure it out after peeking at the definition: to flow outward from something.
Give yourself 2 points if you figure it out after peeking at the first letter: E.
Give yourself 1 point if you figure it out after peeking at the first two letters: EM.
And if you'd like to reveal or review the word, click here.
review this word:
1. A near opposite of INSTILL is
A. DEEPEN.
B. SEQUESTER.
C. DISCOURAGE.
2. His well-meaning parents instilled in him a great deal of cultism and magical thinking; he's still _____ the last of it.
A. uninstalling
B. mucking out
C. siphoning out
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
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Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
If the word instill conjures up for you some vague memories of applying to colleges, it's probably because you had to write about the values of humility and kindness that your parents instilled in you, or the strong work ethic that your summer jobs instilled in you, and yadda yadda yadda. Talking about instillation can be pretty cheesy.
"INSTILL" This word has Latin roots that mean "to drop in."
"My mother was a chef. She was an accountant turned caterer, and she operated the catering company from our one bedroom apartment in the Bronx. So my sister and I had to become her first two employees. That instilled a lot of things in me in an early age: entrepreneurialism, creativity and a passion for food."
Explain the meaning of "instill" without saying "impart" or "teach."
Fill in the blanks: "(Describe a situation.) On one hand, (some authority figure, like a babysitter, an older sibling, a parent, a teacher, a boss, or a government) wants to instill (some good thing). On the other hand, _____."
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. A near opposite of INSTILL is
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. |