TRAIN Synonyms: 173 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'train' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of train are discipline , educate , instruct , school , and teach . While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view. // trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

Q: When is 'discipline' a more appropriate choice than 'train'?

While the synonyms discipline and train are close in meaning, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision. // a disciplined mind

Q: When could 'educate' be used to replace 'train'?

In some situations, the words educate and train are roughly equivalent. However, educate implies development of the mind. // more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

Q: When is it sensible to use 'instruct' instead of 'train'?

The synonyms instruct and train are sometimes interchangeable, but instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching. // instructs raw recruits in military drill

Q: Where would 'school' be a reasonable alternative to 'train'?

While in some cases nearly identical to train , school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master. // schooled the horse in five gaits

Q: When might 'teach' be a better fit than 'train'?

Although the words teach and train have much in common, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn. // taught us a lot about our planet

train 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrān

Definition of train next

as in entourage

a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person a movie star who never goes anywhere without a train of personal assistants to cater to his every whim and need

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in fleet

a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management a train of supply trucks making its way to the army encampment

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in queue

a series of persons or things arranged one behind another already a long train of ticket buyers waiting outside the stadium

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as in sequence

a series of things linked together you've broken my train of thought—now what were we talking about?

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train

2 of 2

verb

as in to prepare

to bring to a proper or desired state of fitness has been training track-and-field athletes at the school for years

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

decondition

as in to teach

to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field will train the students in good study habits

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to focus

to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective train all your thoughts on imagining how you'd score the winning goal in the game

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as in to aim

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal trained his eyes on the distant bull's-eye

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to equip

to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function he's so experienced that they usually use him to train new recruits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of train are discipline, educate, instruct, school, and teach. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than train?

While the synonyms discipline and train are close in meaning, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

When could educate be used to replace train?

In some situations, the words educate and train are roughly equivalent. However, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When is it sensible to use instruct instead of train?

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

instructs raw recruits in military drill

Where would school be a reasonable alternative to train?

While in some cases nearly identical to train, school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When might teach be a better fit than train?

Although the words teach and train have much in common, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

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 train

Noun

More-efficient steam engines were deployed in new factories, trains and steamships. —

Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 4 Feb. 2025 The return to civilization above was easy, thanks to a cable train. —

Megan Dubois, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025

Verb

With a mentor and coach, Ashe began to seriously train and enter local tournaments. —

Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025 The researchers trained seven macaws to perform two intransitive actions. —

Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for train

Recent Examples of Synonyms for train

Noun

The charges were based on an argument that the entourage of managers and aides who helped Kelly meet girls — and keep them obedient and quiet — amounted to a criminal enterprise.

— Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The clip — which quickly made its way around the internet on Tuesday, February 11 — featured Swift, 35, leaving a post-Grammys event with her entourage.

— Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025