inculcate

UK: /ˈɪnkʌlkeɪt/

US: /ɪnˈkʌlkeɪt, ˈɪnkʌlˌkeɪt/

US: (in kul′kāt, in′kul kāt′)

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

inculcates

v 3rd person singular

inculcating

v pres p

inculcated

v past

inculcated

v past p

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

in•cul•cate /ɪnˈkʌlkeɪt, ˈɪnkʌlˌkeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to fix in the mind by repeated statements:
   to inculcate virtue in the young.

in•cul•ca•tion /ˌɪnkʌlˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•cul•cate  (in kul′kāt, in′kul kāt′), v.t., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to implant by repeated statement or admonition; teach persistently and earnestly (usually fol. by upon or in):
   to inculcate virtue in the young.
2. to cause or influence (someone) to accept an idea or feeling (usually fol. by with):
   Socrates inculcated his pupils with the love of truth.

• Latin inculcātus past participle of inculcāre to trample, impress, stuff in, equivalent. to in- in-² + culc- (variant, in noninitial position, of calc-, stem of calx heel) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1540–50

in′cul•ca′tion, n. 
in•cul•ca•tive  (in kul′kə tiv), in•cul′ca•to′ry, adj.  in•cul′ca•tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. instill, infix, ingrain.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

inculcate / ˈɪnkʌlˌkeɪt ɪnˈkʌlkeɪt/ verb

1. (transitive) to instil by forceful or insistent repetition

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin inculcāre to tread upon, ram down, from in-² + calcāre to trample, from calx heel

ˌinculˈcation noun

ˈinculˌcator noun