inaugurate

[ in-aw-gyuh-reyt, -guh- ]
See synonyms for: inaugurateinaugurated on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to introduce into public use by some formal ceremony: Airmail service between Washington, D.C., and New York City was inaugurated in 1918.

Origin of inaugurate

1
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”); see in-2, augur1, -ate1

Other words from inaugurate

  • in·au·gu·ra·tor, noun
  • pre·in·au·gu·rate, verb (used with object), pre·in·au·gu·rat·ed, pre·in·au·gu·rat·ing.
  • re·in·au·gu·rate, verb (used with object), re·in·au·gu·rat·ed, re·in·au·gu·rat·ing.
  • un·in·au·gu·rat·ed, adjective
  • well-in·au·gu·rat·ed, adjective

Words Nearby inaugurate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use inaugurate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inaugurate

inaugurate

/ (ɪnˈɔːɡjʊˌreɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to commence officially or formally; initiate

  2. to place in office formally and ceremonially; induct

  1. to open ceremonially; dedicate formally: to inaugurate a factory

Origin of inaugurate

1
C17: from Latin inaugurāre, literally: to take omens, practise augury, hence to install in office after taking auguries; see in- ², augur

Derived forms of inaugurate

  • inauguration, noun
  • inaugurator, noun
  • inauguratory (ɪnˈɔːɡjʊrətərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

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