educate

[ ej-oo-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ed·u·cat·ed, ed·u·cat·ing.

1. to develop the faculties and powers of (a person) by teaching, instruction, or schooling.

   Synonyms: indoctrinate, drill, school, instruct

2. to qualify by instruction or training for a particular calling, practice, etc.; train:

   to educate someone for law.

3. to provide schooling or training for; send to school.
4. to develop or train (the ear, taste, etc.):

   to educate one's palate to appreciate fine food.

5. to inform:

   to educate oneself about the best course of action.

verb (used without object)

, ed·u·cat·ed, ed·u·cat·ing.

1. to educate a person or group:

   A television program that educates can also entertain.

educate

/ ˈɛdjʊˌkeɪt /

verb

1. also intr to impart knowledge by formal instruction to (a pupil); teach
2. to provide schooling for (children)

   I have educated my children at the best schools

3. to improve or develop (a person, judgment, taste, skills, etc)
4. to train for some particular purpose or occupation

Other Words From

• over·edu·cate verb (used with object) overeducated overeducating
• pre·edu·cate verb (used with object) preeducated preeducating

Word History and Origins

Origin of educate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English educate, educatyn, from Latin ēducātus “brought up, nurtured, taught” (past participle of ēducāre ), equivalent to ē- + -duc-, variant of dūc- “to lead” + -ātus e- ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of educate¹

C15: from Latin ēducāre to rear, educate, from dūcere to lead

Synonym Study

See teach.

Example Sentences

Children should also be educated about AI and encouraged to participate in its development.

From MIT Technology Review

This staff needs to be trained, and voters need to be educated on the process.

From Washington Post

The other trend evident from the map above is that Democrats are gaining ground in the affluent, well-educated counties around Philadelphia.

From FiveThirtyEight

That means its leaders try to educate on what kinds of decisions would help Netflix thrive.

From Freakonomics

Together, they began forming the network of Drag Ambassadors and supplying them with information and materials to educate their own audiences.

From Washington Blade

We were able, hopefully, to educate those policy makers… As of December of this year, cooler heads have prevailed.

From The Daily Beast

Megatron took it upon herself to educate her own kids before they were introduced to sex at school.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed--she has helped educate the world on the titillating culture of kink.

From The Daily Beast

The fliers, Ancona explained, are meant to educate people on what rights they legally have to use lethal force in self-defense.

From The Daily Beast

When Emmanuel came he tried to educate us, telling us you have to stop killing, destroying, being corrupted.

From The Daily Beast

Educate them for the Store and the Counting House—to do every-day practical business.

From Project Gutenberg

So they talked of newer plans, while Smillie toiled like a giant to educate and organize the miners.

From Project Gutenberg

But her chief purpose was to educate the school children in the larger, more wholesome ideas of peace.

From Project Gutenberg

You get an ordinary, grinning, red-headed boy, and you have to educate him.

From Project Gutenberg

Then why not educate him in some way that will really fit him to make a better living, and be a better man?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cultivate
• develop
• discipline
• enlighten
• improve
• inform
• instruct
• rear
• train
• tutor