Institute — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈin(t)-stə-ˌtüt/ in·sti·tute

Meaning & Definition of Institute

Institute (noun)

  1. something that is instituted
  2. an organization for the promotion of a cause, association
  3. an educational institution and especially one devoted to technical fields

Institute (verb)

  1. to originate and get established, organize
  2. to set going, inaugurate
  3. to establish in a position or office

Institute (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest

    "founded an institute to combat the cruel treatment of animals"

    similar: association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality
    related: collective, commune, community, cooperative, alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership, body, cadre, group, circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch, lot, set, crew, outfit, party, squad, team, branch, chapter, local, faithful, fold, membership, sisterhood, sorority, cabal, camarilla, camorra, confederacy, conspiracy, band, gang, ring, cartel, combine, syndicate

  2. a public organization with a particular purpose or function

    "a scientific institute researching a cure for cancer"

    similar: establishment, foundation, institution
    related: body, collective, group, corporation, enterprise, charity, philanthropy, think tank

Institute (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

    "Elizabeth Cady Stanton is generally credited with instituting the women's-rights movement in 1848"

    similar: begin, constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start
    related: author, father, originate, conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, produce, think (up), construct, put up, develop, enlarge, expand, endow, finance, fund, subsidize, arrange, organize, systematize, systemize, refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch
    opposite: close (down), phase out, shut (up)
    near: abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify, end, finish, halt, stop, terminate, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Institute

The most common words with a similar meaning to Institute:

association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality, establishment, foundation, begin, constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Institute

Words with the opposite meaning of Institute:

close (down), phase out, shut (up)

Related Words for Institute

collective, commune, community, cooperative, alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership, body, cadre, group, circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch, lot, set, crew, outfit, party, squad, team, branch, chapter, local, faithful

Near Antonyms of Institute

abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify, end, finish, halt, stop, terminate, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Word Forms of Institute

Inflections: institutes, instituted, instituting

Derived words: instituter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Institute

Middle English, from Latin institutus, past participle of instituere, from in- + statuere to set up statute

First known use: 1534

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Institute

Frequently Asked Questions about Institute

What does "Institute" mean?

"Institute" means something that is instituted. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: something that is instituted. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Institute"?

Other words for "Institute" include association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress and consortium. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Institute" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Institute"?

There are 115 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Institute". Common alternatives include association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council and fellowship.

What is the opposite of "Institute"?

Antonyms of "Institute" include close (down), phase out and shut (up). Near antonyms include abolish, annihilate, annul and nullify.

How do you use "Institute" in a sentence?

Examples of "Institute" in a sentence: "founded an institute to combat the cruel treatment of animals"; "a scientific institute researching a cure for cancer"; "Elizabeth Cady Stanton is generally credited with instituting the women's-rights movement in 1848".

Is "Institute" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Institute" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Institute" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Institute" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Institute"?

"Institute" is pronounced /ˈin(t)-stə-ˌtüt/ and divided into syllables as in·sti·tute.