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Instruct vs Learn - What's the difference?

instruct | learn |

As verbs the difference between instruct and learn

is that instruct is (label) to teach by giving instructions while learn is to acquire, or attempt to acquire knowledge or an ability to do something or learn can be .

As a noun instruct

is (label) instruction.

As an adjective instruct

is (label) arranged; furnished; provided.

instruct

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (label) to teach by giving instructions
  • (label) to direct; to order (usage note : "instruct" is less forceful than "order", but weightier than "advise")
  • Synonyms

    * guide

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (label) instruction
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • (label) arranged; furnished; provided
  • * Chapman
  • (label) instructed; taught; enlightened
  • (Milton)

    learn

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) lernen, from (etyl) . Compare (etyl) lernen.

    Verb

  • To acquire, or attempt to acquire knowledge or an ability to do something.
  • To attend a course or other educational activity.
  • * 1719 ,
  • For, as he took delight to introduce me, I took delight to learn.
  • To gain knowledge from a bad experience.
  • learn from one's mistakes
  • To be studying.
  • To come to know; to become informed of; to find out.
  • He just learned that he will be sacked.
    Usage notes
    * See other, dated and regional, sense of below.
    Synonyms
    * (l)
    Antonyms
    * (l) * (l)
    Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) . Compare Dutch leren, German (m).

    Verb

  • *:
  • *:And whan she had serched hym / she fond in the bottome of his wound that therin was poyson / And soo she heled hym/ and therfore Tramtrist cast grete loue to la beale Isoud / for she was at that tyme the fairest mayde and lady of the worlde / And there Tramtryst lerned her to harpe / and she beganne to haue grete fantasye vnto hym
  • *1599 , (William Shakespeare), (Much Ado About Nothing) ,
  • *:Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.
  • *circa 1611 , (William Shakespeare), (Cymbeline), :
  • *:Have I not been / Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn’d me how / To make perfumes?
  • *1993 , The Simpsons , (18 Feb. 1993) Lisa's thoughts:
  • *:That'll learn him to bust my tomater.
  • Usage notes
    Now often considered non-standard.
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    References

    * * * Family Word Finder Readers Digest Association Inc. NY 1975