teaching

teaching — noun

1. the work or profession of helping people to learn, usually in a school, college,

1.nounA2
Definition

the work or profession of helping people to learn, usually in a school, college, or similar place where knowledge and skills are passed on.

Example

Noor has been in teaching for over twenty years and still enjoys working with children.

uncountable: 'in teaching' for the profession

After university, Mark decided to go into teaching rather than business.

collocation: go into teaching

Common collocations
  • go into teaching
  • leave teaching
  • in teaching
  • a career in teaching
  • teaching experience
Synonyms
  • education

    broader concept covering any learning experience, not just formal instruction

  • instruction

    more focused on giving direct guidance or training in a specific skill

  • tuition

    usually refers to paid, individual or small-group teaching outside the school system

Grammar Patterns

teaching as an uncountable noun for the profession

Usage Note

Uncountable when referring to the profession or activity. The phrase 'go into teaching' is a fixed collocation meaning 'become a teacher'.

Common Mistakes

I want to go to teaching after college.
I want to go into teaching after college.
The correct collocation is 'go into teaching', not 'go to teaching'.
She has a teaching at the local school.
She works in teaching at the local school.
'Teaching' is uncountable when referring to the profession; it cannot take the article 'a'.

2. the beliefs about life, religion, politics, or morality that a respected person

2.nounB2
Definition

the beliefs about life, religion, politics, or morality that a respected person or group passes on to followers as guiding principles.

Example

The teachings of the Buddha have guided millions across Asia for centuries.

plural form: teachings of [person]

Many activists still follow the political teachings of Nelson Mandela in their work for justice.

collocation: follow the teachings of [person]

Common collocations
  • teachings of
  • follow the teachings
  • according to the teachings
  • the teachings of [leader/founder]
Synonyms
  • doctrine

    more formal and implies a fixed system of beliefs, often religious or political

  • principles

    more general and not limited to a leader's body of work; can apply to any guiding rule

  • ideology

    usually refers to a political or economic system of ideas, often with an action-oriented focus

Grammar Patterns

the teachings of [person/group]

[possessive] + teachings

Usage Note

Typically used in the plural form 'teachings' or with a possessive determiner. Often preceded by 'the' when referring to a specific body of doctrine (e.g., 'the teachings of Confucius').

Common Mistakes

I follow his teaching about peace.
I follow his teachings about peace.
When referring to a set of guiding ideas, the plural form 'teachings' is standard.
Buddha teaching is very deep.
The teachings of the Buddha are very deep.
The definite article and plural form are needed for the body of doctrine.

teaching — adjective

Word family

  • teach
    verbA1
  • teacher
    nounA1
  • teachable
    adjectiveB2
  • teachings
    plural nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Teaching refers specifically to the profession or activity of helping others learn, usually in a formal setting. Education is the broadest term, covering any process of learning — formal or informal, throughout life. Instruction is narrower, focusing on the direct transfer of knowledge or a skill (e.g., 'driving instruction'). Tuition is a subset of teaching that involves payment, often one-to-one or in small groups outside mainstream schooling. Training emphasises practical skills for a specific task or job, such as 'job training' or 'safety training'. While a teacher may do all of these, the word 'teaching' captures the full scope of guiding learners over time, not just delivering content. For example: 'She went into teaching because she wanted to shape young minds' — here, 'education' would be too broad, and 'instruction' too narrow.

teaching ↗education ↗instruction ↗tuition ↗training ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • teaching career
  • teaching experience
  • teaching practice

Phrases

  • methods of teaching
  • quality of teaching
  • approach to teaching

Prepositions

  • in teaching
  • into teaching
  • about teaching
  • through teaching

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The noun 'teaching' comes from the Old English verb 'tǣcan', meaning 'to show, point out, or instruct', which traces back to the Proto-Germanic root *taikijaną ('to show'). This same root is related to Old English 'tācen' (a sign or token), which became modern English 'token'. The sense of 'teaching' as a profession emerged by the 14th century, while the plural form 'teachings' took on the meaning of 'doctrines or principles' by the 16th century.