institute

UK: /ˈɪnstɪtjuːt/

US: /ˈɪnstɪˌtut, -ˌtjut/

US: (in′sti to̅o̅t′, -tyo̅o̅t′)

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

institutes

v 3rd person singular

instituting

v pres p

instituted

v past

instituted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sti•tute /ˈɪnstɪˌtut, -ˌtyut/   v., -tut•ed, -tut•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to set up;
   establish;
   organize:
   The colony quickly instituted rules.
2. to start;
   set in operation;
   initiate:
   He instituted a lawsuit against his old company.

n. [countable]

3. a society, etc., for carrying on a particular work, as of a literary, scientific, or educational character:
   a research institute.

in•sti•tut•er, in•sti•tu•tor, n. [countable] See -stit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sti•tute  (in′sti to̅o̅t′, -tyo̅o̅t′), v., -tut•ed, -tut•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to set up;
   establish;
   organize:
   to institute a government.
2. to inaugurate;
   initiate;
   start:
   to institute a new course in American literature.
3. to set in operation:
   to institute a lawsuit.
4. to bring into use or practice:
   to institute laws.
5. to establish in an office or position.
6. Religion [Eccles.] to assign to or invest with a spiritual charge, as of a parish.

n. 

7. a society or organization for carrying on a particular work, as of a literary, scientific, or educational character.
8. the building occupied by such a society.
9. Education
   • Education an institution, generally beyond the secondary school level, devoted to instruction in technical subjects, usually separate but sometimes organized as a part of a university.
   • a unit within a university organized for advanced instruction and research in a relatively narrow field of subject matter.
   • Education a short instructional program set up for a special group interested in a specialized field or subject.
10. an established principle, law, custom, or organization.
11. Law institutes:
    • an elementary textbook of law designed for beginners.
    • (cap.) Also called In′stitutes of Justin′ian. an elementary treatise on Roman law in four books, forming one of the four divisions of the Corpus Juris Civilis.
12. something instituted.

• Latin institūtus past participle of instituere to set, put up, establish, equivalent. to in- in-² + -stitū- (combining form of statū-, stem of statuere to make stand) + -tus past participle suffix
• Middle English 1275–1325

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

institute / ˈɪnstɪˌtjuːt/ verb (transitive)

1. to organize; establish
2. to initiate: to institute a practice
3. to establish in a position or office; induct

noun

1. an organization founded for particular work, such as education, promotion of the arts, or scientific research
2. the building where such an organization is situated
3. something instituted, esp a rule, custom, or precedent

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin instituere, from statuere to place, stand

ˈinstiˌtutor, ˈinstiˌtuter noun