tutor

1 of 2

noun

tu·​tor ˈtü-tər 

ˈtyü-

: a person charged with the instruction and guidance of another: such as

a

: a private teacher

b

: a teacher in a British university who gives individual instruction to undergraduates

tutor

2 of 2

verb

tutored; tutoring; tutors

transitive verb

1

: to teach or guide usually individually in a special subject or for a particular purpose : coach

2

: to have the guardianship, tutelage, or care of

intransitive verb

1

: to do the work of a tutor

2

: to receive instruction especially privately

Synonyms

Verb

• educate
• indoctrinate
• instruct
• lesson
• school
• teach
• train

Examples of tutor in a Sentence

Noun

I got a tutor to help me with my homework.

He is a tutor in European history.

Verb

She earned extra money tutoring in the evening.

bought a video series designed to tutor a person in the fine art of decorating cakes

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Students will have more opportunities in schools that can provide, art, music, physical education, social-emotional learning, reading tutors, social workers, and all the other wonderful programs offered in schools that are full of students and have full funding. —The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 2 Nov. 2024

Recruiting enough high-quality tutors who will stick with the program has already been an ongoing challenge, Arnett-Holman said, though nearly half of last year's tutors returned. —Arika Herron, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

While in France, Jones also studied with Nadia Boulanger, who tutored many of the greatest classical music composers of the 20th century. —Elias Leight, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024

Guides on how to post your own photo dumps followed, tutoring users on how to carefully achieve something haphazard-looking. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tutour, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin tutor, from tueri

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Kids Definition

tutor

1 of 2 noun

tu·​tor ˈt(y)üt-ər 

: a person who has the responsibility of instructing and guiding another

tutor

2 of 2 verb

: to teach usually individually

Legal Definition

tutor

noun

tu·​tor ˈtü-tər, ˈtyü-tər 

in the civil law of Louisiana : a guardian of a minor or sometimes of a person with mental retardation compare committee, conservator, curator

tutorship noun