To inculcate means to teach someone an idea, value, or habit through frequent repetition until it becomes a fixed part of how they think or act. When parents inculcate honesty in their children, they don't just mention it once: they model it, discuss it, praise it, and correct dishonesty over years until honesty becomes second nature.

Teachers inculcate good study habits by consistently reminding students to check their work, organize their materials, and review regularly. A coach might inculcate teamwork by structuring every practice around cooperation and selflessness. The word suggests patient, persistent effort rather than quick teaching.

Inculcate is different from simply informing someone. You can tell a student “be punctual” once, but to inculcate punctuality requires modeling it yourself, establishing routines, explaining why it matters, and reinforcing the behavior until arriving on time becomes automatic.

The word often appears with “in”: values are inculcated in students, and principles are inculcated in children. While inculcate sounds formal, the process happens naturally in families and schools every day. Those repeated reminders to say “please” and “thank you,” to clean up after yourself, or to finish what you start? That's inculcation at work, building character one repetition at a time.