Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: LAW

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: , past participle of instruere, from struere 'to build'

instruct

 verb
     
in‧struct [transitive]
1 to officially tell someone what to do [↪ order]
instruct somebody to do something
His secretary was instructed to cancel all his engagements.
instruct (somebody) that
The judge immediately instructed that Beattie be released.
Eva went straight to the hotel, as instructed (=as she had been told).
instruct somebody what to do
He had instructed the slaves what to say when questioned.
2 formal to teach someone something, or show them how to do something
instruct somebody in something
Greater effort is needed to instruct children in road safety.
instruct somebody how to do something
Employees are instructed how to make a complaint.
3 [usually passive] British English formal to officially tell someone about something
instruct somebody that
I was instructed that £20,000 had been paid into my account.
4 British English lawSCL to employ a lawyer to represent you in court
Definition of instruct from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic LAW
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