school 1 of 2

noun

ˈskül How to pronounce school (audio)
Definition of schoolnext
as in academy
a place or establishment for teaching and learning one of the first schools in the country to admit girls as students

Synonyms & Similar Words

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school

2 of 2

verb

as in to teach
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field schooled their children in proper etiquette for formal occasions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word school different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of school are discipline, educate, instruct, teach, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than school?

While in some cases nearly identical to school, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

In what contexts can educate take the place of school?

While the synonyms educate and school are close in meaning, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When might instruct be a better fit than school?

The synonyms instruct and school are sometimes interchangeable, but instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

When is it sensible to use teach instead of school?

In some situations, the words teach and school are roughly equivalent. However, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

When can train be used instead of school?

The words train and school can be used in similar contexts, but train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of school
Noun
Kelchen expects an uptick in closures rather than a massive wave, with schools in rural parts of the Northeast and Midwest facing particularly strong headwinds. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Six others suffered minor injuries, including the driver and student in the school van. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
Nixon had a rough Friday at Green Bay’s Family Night, getting schooled repeatedly by Matthew Golden during 1-on-1 drills. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Taylor has been schooling La Trice on how to play the game, and then came up with a big Veto win this week. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for school
Recent Examples of Synonyms for school
  1. academy
  2. teach
  3. seminary
  4. educate
Noun
  • The order tasks the commission with a 120-day timeline to submit a proposal to Trump for the leadership structure, curriculum, and organizational details of the new academy.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Her biggest concern is that creating an academy modeled after the military service academies would conflate what NASA does—the peaceful, civil exploration of space—with military activities undertaken by the US Space Force.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of academy
Verb
  • Winner had a choice Johnson lives in Goldston and has taught middle school for about 20 years.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The couple's home is near the former San Francisco Art Institute, where prominent sculptor Ralph Stackpole taught for decades — leading Gittelsohn to believe the piece may have a connection to him or one of his students.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of teach
Noun
  • Eventually, Lamb attended seminary and became a Catholic priest in 1966.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The location pushed the seminary’s politics to the left, but poverty and activist flags are harder to find in Chelsea these days.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of seminary
Verb
  • During the tasting experience, experts will educate attendees on the process and history behind each whiskey.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As one of the world’s leading manta ray research organizations, The Manta Trust is dedicated to educating and conserving habitats for these majestic creatures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of educate

Phrases Containing school

Browse Nearby Words

scholastic
school
school bag
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Cite this Entry

“School.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/school. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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