Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for instrument. Search instead for altinstrument.
Definitions

instrument

[in-struh-muhnt] / ˈɪn strə mənt /




Usage

What are other ways to say instrument? An instrument is anything used in doing a certain type of work or producing a certain result, especially such as requires delicacy, accuracy, or precision: surgical or musical instruments. A tool is a contrivance held in and worked by the hand, for assisting the work of (especially) mechanics or skilled laborers: a carpenter's tools. An implement is any tool or contrivance designed or used for a particular purpose: agricultural implements. A utensil is especially an article for domestic use: kitchen utensils. 

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The instrument is expected to detect planets that are 100 million times fainter than their host stars, a performance 100 to 1,000 times better than existing space-based coronagraphs.

From Science Daily Aug. 28, 2026

Larson’s instrument has been the Social Security 2100 Act, which he first introduced in 2017.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 18, 2026

But its compact winding of typically unwieldy hunting-horn hoops allows the instrument to be tucked under the arm for easy portability outdoors.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 15, 2026

A melodica is a handheld instrument played by blowing air into a reed, which is attached to a keyboard.

From BBC Aug. 13, 2026

The King’s leitmotif, for example, might be 4 quarter notes played on a trumpet sound on a keyboard, or using an interval of a 5th on any instrument to sound regal and stately.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

In addition to the variety of instruments evoking the sounds of nature, it incorporated breathwork, vocal exercises and a small amount of physical sensation: a refreshing spritz of rose water.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 28, 2026

"This gives MMX a clearer picture of what its instruments -- and ultimately the sample collection -- can expect."

From Science Daily Aug. 26, 2026

Catching them in nets and fitting the instruments takes about 20 minutes: a brief stressful episode after which the animals return to normal behavior.

From Barron's Aug. 26, 2026

The chairman has a few instruments for holding a committee together.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 26, 2026

Some of the men played a “Discord Fantasia” on homemade instruments, setting the dogs outside howling.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Because of these risks, the landslide area has been extensively instrumented since 2020.

From Science Daily Dec. 21, 2025

We're the only sport that has done this type of work with instrumented mouthguards.

From BBC Sep. 16, 2022

When NASA’s most powerful rocket ever attempts its first flight this month, its highest profile payload will be three instrumented mannequins, setting off on a 42-day journey beyond the Moon and back.

From Science Magazine Aug. 15, 2022

Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, a U.S. naval facility, is the world's largest instrumented, "multi-dimensional" testing and training missile range, according to the U.S.

From Fox News Feb. 22, 2022

We are unlikely to determine the answer to this question without landing instrumented space vehicles on the Titanian surface.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

“We are instrumenting the car in a way that is overloading the driver just like we were overloading the helicopter pilots,” said Strayer, director of the university’s Center for the Prevention of Distracted Driving.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 6, 2022

This can be a result of budgetary constraints, the difficulty of instrumenting treacherous volcanoes and, in some cases, red tape preventing the placement of sensors in wilderness areas.

From New York Times Nov. 9, 2021

“And we need to rethink what this instrumenting of the world — all that data being generated and collected — means for privacy and how all this data is used.”

From New York Times Aug. 4, 2015

Yet little has been done to probe the underlying crust and mantle, mainly because instrumenting the entire state is so expensive.

From Scientific American Nov. 5, 2013

Niels and I get to work carefully instrumenting the sleep logger and attaching it to the bird.

From New York Times Apr. 15, 2011




Vocabulary lists containing instrument


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training