verb
ingrain
in-GRAYN/ɪnˈɡreɪn/
To fix deeply in thought, habit, or character.
The parent helps ingrain handwashing through patient practice with the child.
Etymology
The French pieces refer to dyeing fabric with “grain,” a red insect dye whose source was mistaken for berries. Being fast-dyed became an image for fixing ideas or habits deeply and firmly.
In context
It's taken 20 years to really ingrain the culture of drinking coconut water into the American consumers mindset. But it's coming along and it's really mainstream.
More examples
- Her parents ingrained a strong sense of fairness in her.
- Regular training ingrains safety procedures in every worker's memory.
- The fear of failure is deeply ingrained in him.
Forms
ingrain · ingrains · ingrained · ingraining
Similar words
- instill
- Emphasizes gradually introducing an idea or feeling through repeated influence.
- embed
- Emphasizes placing something firmly within a larger structure or system.
- entrench
- Emphasizes making beliefs or practices difficult to change.