instantiate

verb

in·​stan·​ti·​ate in-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce instantiate (audio)
instantiated; instantiating
Synonyms of instantiate

transitive verb

: to represent (an abstraction) by a concrete instance
Heroes instantiate ideals.—W. J. Bennett
instantiation
in-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce instantiate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of instantiate

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Examples of instantiate in a Sentence

his imposing mansion is intended to instantiate for visitors his staggering success as an entrepreneur
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
He feels burned by his efforts to instantiate popular sovereignty. — Shikha Dalmia, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2025 Other works by Paglen physically instantiate his arguments beyond what writing alone can do. — Louis Bury, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026 Are the humanities as they are currently instantiated in the American university system actually worth the Faustian bargains we are forced to make to keep them? — Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026 In other words, our intelligence is designed as an uncertainty-minimization function, and this is instantiated as a set of mental states (gears) controlled by the blue dot, LC network. — Marcus Weldon, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for instantiate

Word History

Etymology

instanti-, form in derivation of instance entry 1 + -ate entry 4

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instantiate was in 1949

Rhymes for instantiate

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Browse Nearby Words

instantial
instantiate
instantize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instantiate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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