tutored

IPA/ˈtʃuː.tər/
KK[tˈutɚd]IPA/ˈtuː.t̬ɚ/

tutored — verb

  • tutoredpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • tutoreds3rd person singular
  • tutoreding-ing form
  • tutorededpast simple

1. to give a student or a small group of students extra teaching outside their regu

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to give a student or a small group of students extra teaching outside their regular classes, usually for a fee, in order to help them improve in a particular subject

Example

Rohan tutored his younger sister in math every Tuesday evening after her school let out.

tutor + [person] + in + [subject]

The retired chemistry teacher tutored three high school students for their college entrance exams.

tutor + [person] + for + [exam]

Common collocations
  • tutor someone in (math, English, physics)
  • tutor someone for (an exam, a test, the SAT)
  • privately tutor
  • tutor one-on-one
Synonyms
  • teach

    broader meaning; teaching can happen in any setting, while tutoring is typically individual or small-group and often remedial

  • coach

    more common for skills, sports, or exam preparation; 'coach' often has a performance-improvement focus rather than general academic support

  • mentor

    a long-term relationship involving career or personal guidance beyond a single subject; 'tutor' is narrower and subject-specific

Antonyms
  • learn

    the learner receives instruction rather than giving it

Grammar Patterns

tutor + [person] + in + [subject]

tutor + [person] + for + [test/subject]

[Person] tutors [someone]

Usage Note

Object is typically a learner or a group. The subject's area of expertise often follows 'in' (tutor someone in physics); the purpose can follow 'for' (tutor someone for an exam). Frequently used in educational contexts.

Common Mistakes

The teacher tutored the whole class of forty students.
The teacher taught the whole class.
'tutor' implies small-group or one-on-one instruction, not a full classroom.

2. to be legally responsible for the care, protection, and well-being of a child or

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to be legally responsible for the care, protection, and well-being of a child or of an adult who cannot look after themselves

Example

After their parents died, Aunt Ayana was appointed to tutor the children until adulthood.

legal context: appointed to tutor

The court assigned a social worker to tutor the orphan until a permanent home was found.

Common collocations
  • legally tutor
  • appointed to tutor
  • tutor a minor
Synonyms
  • guardian

    a noun; the verb 'tutor' in this sense overlaps with 'act as a guardian', though 'guardian' is far more common in modern legal language

Grammar Patterns

tutor + [person] (as ward/child under care)

Usage Note

This sense is formal and appears almost exclusively in legal or official documents about child welfare and guardianship. Distinguish from sense 1 (PRIVATE TEACHING), where the focus is on academic instruction rather than legal custody.

Common Mistakes

I tutored my friend's cat while she was on holiday.' (confusing legal care with pet-sitting)
I looked after my friend's cat.
'tutor' in the guardianship sense applies only to people under a formal legal arrangement.

tutored — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve helping someone learn, but they differ in setting and scope. 'Teach' is the broadest: anyone who imparts knowledge or skill — in a classroom, workshop, or online — is teaching. 'Tutor' adds the idea of private, individualised attention, often for a fee and targeting a specific weakness (e.g., struggling with calculus). 'Coach' is widely used for performance-related training (sports, exams, job interviews) and tends to focus on technique and practice rather than content knowledge. 'Mentor' describes a longer, more personal relationship where an experienced person guides another's overall development — career advice, life decisions — not just one subject. 'Instruct' is the most formal, often used for step-by-step procedural training (e.g., 'instruct someone on how to use the equipment'). Choosing the right word depends on whether the help is academic, performance-based, or holistic. For example: 'Kasia tutors students in biology every weekend'; 'Sivan coaches the debate team on public speaking'; 'Devika mentors young professionals entering the tech industry.'

teach ↗coach ↗mentor ↗instruct ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • tutor someone in something
  • tutor someone for something
  • hire a tutor
  • work as a tutor

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

'Tutor' entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'tutour', meaning 'guardian, private teacher'. The French word came from Latin 'tutor' (watcher, protector, guardian), which derived from the verb 'tueri' — 'to watch over, look after, protect'. The original Latin sense of guardianship survives in the less common verb sense 2, while the academic teaching sense has become the dominant meaning in modern English.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above Verb