inaugurate

[ in-aw-gyuh-reyt, -guh- ]

verb (used with object)

, in·au·gu·rat·ed, in·au·gu·rat·ing.

1. to make a formal beginning of; initiate; commence; begin:

   The end of World War II inaugurated the era of nuclear power.

2. to induct into office with formal ceremonies; install.
3. to introduce into public use by some formal ceremony:

   Airmail service between Washington, D.C., and New York City was inaugurated in 1918.

inaugurate

/ ɪnˈɔːɡjʊrətərɪ; ɪnˈɔːɡjʊˌreɪt; -trɪ /

verb

1. to commence officially or formally; initiate
2. to place in office formally and ceremonially; induct
3. to open ceremonially; dedicate formally

   to inaugurate a factory

Derived Forms

• inˌauguˈration, noun
• inˈauguˌrator, noun
• inauguratory, adjective

Other Words From

• in·augu·rator noun
• prein·augu·rate verb (used with object) preinaugurated preinaugurating
• rein·augu·rate verb (used with object) reinaugurated reinaugurating
• unin·augu·rated adjective
• well-in·augu·rated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inaugurate¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin inaugurātus, past participle of inaugurāre “to consecrate by augury (a person chosen for priesthood or other office),” literally, “to take auguries”); in- ², augur ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inaugurate¹

C17: from Latin inaugurāre, literally: to take omens, practise augury, hence to install in office after taking auguries; see in- ², augur

Example Sentences

The hiring seemed to inaugurate a détente between Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell.

From The Daily Beast

Sweden was the first European country to inaugurate a dedicated LGBT retirement facility, which was opened in Stockholm in 2013.

From The Daily Beast

Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution.

From The Daily Beast

But the reality of the world is that the media rarely inaugurate such probes.

From The Daily Beast

In line with this growth, the Peruvian author is the first Nobel laureate invited to inaugurate the fair.

From The Daily Beast

Under such auspices dawned the year 1861, destined to inaugurate a new epoch in the life of Tchaikovsky.

From Project Gutenberg

Make the work efficient, though it be limited to a small number, rather than inaugurate a magnificent failure.

From Project Gutenberg

Anyway she knows that persecution will result, and she has persuaded Mrs. Endicott to inaugurate it.

From Project Gutenberg

I should have been glad to inaugurate in Boston, during the last six years, several important industrial movements.

From Project Gutenberg

The consequences of this blow were momentous; it may be said to inaugurate the ghetto period.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• commence
• dedicate
• induct
• initiate
• introduce
• launch
• open
• set up