adj · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:/ˈɪn.kʌl.keɪt/
UK:/ɪnˈkʌl.keɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH1 NG K AH0 L K EY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Inculcated.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To teach by repeated instruction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: instill, ingrain
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
inculcate values into the young generation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: instill, infuse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: drill
Narrower terms: din
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin inculcātus, perfect passive participle of inculcō (“impress upon, force upon”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + calcō (“tread upon, trample”), from calx (“heel”). Participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.
Across languages
Translations
38 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
մտքում տպավորել
(mtkʻum tpavorel)
— teach by repeated instruction
Armenian:
արմատավորել
(armatavorel)
— teach by repeated instruction
Armenian:
մտցնել
(mtcʻnel)
— teach by repeated instruction
Armenian:
պատվաստել
(patvastel)
— teach by repeated instruction
Bulgarian:
втълпявам
(vtǎlpjavam)
— teach by repeated instruction
Catalan:
inculcar
— teach by repeated instruction
Crimean Tatar:
talim
— teach by repeated instruction
Czech:
vštípit
— teach by repeated instruction
Dutch:
inprenten
— teach by repeated instruction
French:
inculquer
— teach by repeated instruction
German:
einimpfen
— teach by repeated instruction
German:
einschärfen
— teach by repeated instruction
Italian:
inculcare
— teach by repeated instruction
Latin:
inculcō
— teach by repeated instruction
Norwegian:
innprente
— teach by repeated instruction
Polish:
wdrażać
— teach by repeated instruction
Polish:
wdrożyć
— teach by repeated instruction
Portuguese:
inculcar
— teach by repeated instruction
Russian:
прививать
(privivatʹ)
— teach by repeated instruction
Serbo-Croatian:
utuviti
— teach by repeated instruction
Spanish:
inculcar
— teach by repeated instruction
Turkish:
telkin etmek
— teach by repeated instruction
Armenian:
ներշնչել
(neršnčʻel)
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Armenian:
արմատավորել
(armatavorel)
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Armenian:
մտցնել
(mtcʻnel)
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Armenian:
հաղորդել
(haġordel)
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Bulgarian:
внушавам
(vnušavam)
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Latin:
inculcō
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Polish:
wpajać
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Polish:
wpoić
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Polish:
wszczepiać
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Polish:
wszczepić
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Romanian:
inculca
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Romanian:
înrădăcina
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Russian:
внушать
(vnušatʹ)
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Russian:
насаждать
(nasaždatʹ)
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Spanish:
inculcar
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons
Tamil:
பதி
(pati)
— to induce understanding or a particular sentiment in a person or persons