educate

UK: /ˈɛdʒʊkeɪt/ US: /ˈɛdʒʊˌkeɪt/ ,(ej′ŏŏ kāt′)

Inflections of 'educate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

educates

v 3rd person singular

educating

v pres p

educated

v past

educated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ed•u•cate /ˈɛdʒʊˌkeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. Education to teach (a person) by instruction or schooling;
   train:
   an economist educated at Harvard.
2. Education to provide education for;
   send to school:
   They raised and educated their two daughters.

ed•u•cat•ed, adj. 
ed•u•ca•tor, n. [countable]
Related Words

educate is a verb, educated and educational are adjectives, education and educator are nouns:
Teachers educate their students. We need a well-educated work force. There are new educational methods in classes today. Education is important. Parents and educators got together to decide how to solve the problem.
See -duc-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ed•u•cate  (ej′ŏŏ kāt′), v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 
v.t. 

1. Education to develop the faculties and powers of (a person) by teaching, instruction, or schooling.
2. Education to qualify by instruction or training for a particular calling, practice, etc.;
   train:
   to educate someone for law.
3. Education to provide schooling or training for;
   send to school.
4. Education to develop or train (the ear, taste, etc.):
   to educate one's palate to appreciate fine food.
5. Education to inform:
   to educate oneself about the best course of action.

v.i. 

6. Education to educate a person or group:
   A television program that educates can also entertain.

• Latin ēducātus brought up, taught (past participle of ēducāre), equivalent. to ē- e- + -duc- lead + -ātus -ate¹
• 1580–90

Synonyms

• 1. instruct, school, drill, indoctrinate. See teach. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

educate / ˈɛdjʊˌkeɪt/ verb (mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to impart knowledge by formal instruction to (a pupil); teach
2. to provide schooling for (children)
3. to improve or develop (a person, judgment, taste, skills, etc)
4. to train for some particular purpose or occupation

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin ēducāre to rear, educate, from dūcere to lead