overinstruct

O1V4E1R1I1N1S1T1R1U1C3T1

verb

To instruct excessively.

Scrabble 17

Meanings

verboverinstruct (third-person singular simple present overinstructs, present participle overinstructing, simple past and past participle overinstructed)

present singular third person overinstructs · participle present overinstructing · participle past overinstructed · past overinstructed · alternative over-instruct

  1. To instruct excessively.

    It is a common fault to overinstruct the composing room—to tell them the size of type to use in every line and in every corner.

    1922, E. H. Kastor, Advertising, LaSalle Extension University, page 122
    2 more examples

    …feminist critics found fault with the magazine’s tendency to overinstruct readers on how to become some stereotype of a woman they might not be naturally….

    1996, Candace Lewis, “Helen Gurley Brown”, in Nancy Signorielli, editor, Women in Communication: A Biographical Sourcebook, Greenwood Press, →ISBN, page 36

    Verbal instructions are often overdone and are often unable to capture the many subtle aspects of skilled movements. …The most important message here is do not overinstruct.

    1997, Malcolm R. McNeil, Donald A. Robin, and Richard A. Schmidt, "Apraxia of Speech: Definition, Differentiation, and Treatment", chapter 14 of Malcolm R. McNeil (ed.), Clinical Management of Sensorimotor Speech Disorders, Thieme, page 333

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

overinstruct. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overinstruct

MLA

“overinstruct.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overinstruct. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overinstruct,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overinstruct.

Source: overinstruct on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.