initiate

[ih-nish-ee-eyt, ih-nish-ee-it, -eyt]

verb (used with object)

initiated, initiating 

1. to begin, set going, or originate.

   to initiate major social reforms.

   Synonyms: open, inaugurate, introduce, commence
   Antonyms: conclude

2. to introduce into the knowledge of some art or subject.

   Synonyms: train, indoctrinate, instruct, teach

3. to admit or accept with formal rites into an organization or group, secret knowledge, adult society, etc.

4. Government.,  to propose (a measure) by initiative procedure.

   to initiate a constitutional amendment.

adjective

1. admitted into an organization or group, secret knowledge, etc.

2. introduced to the knowledge of a subject.

3. initiated; begun.

   the recently initiate measures.

noun

1. a person who has been initiated.

initiate

verb

1. to begin or originate

2. to accept (new members) into an organization such as a club, through often secret ceremonies

3. to teach fundamentals to

   she initiated him into the ballet

adjective

1. initiated; begun

noun

1. a person who has been initiated, esp recently

2. a beginner; novice

Other Word Forms

• initiator noun
• noninitiate noun
• preinitiate noun
• reinitiate verb (used with object)
• uninitiate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of initiate¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin initiātus, past participle of initiāre “to ritually initiate, admit,” equivalent to initi(um) “beginning” + -ātus past participle suffix; initial, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of initiate¹

C17: from Latin initiāre (vb), from initium; see _initial

Synonym Study

See begin.

Example Sentences

"We have today instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against you," the group said at the time.

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This response activates pathways that either repair the damage or, if necessary, initiate programmed cell death.

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According to Stöllner, the current scientific view is that, in both scenarios, the electric field inside clouds appears too weak to initiate lightning on its own.

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When Labour entered office in 2024 it passed a new law giving it new powers to initiate forecasts, even when the government does not ask it to.

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The Toulouse prosecutor's office told AFP their financial crime division was initiating an investigation into "the conditions surrounding the creation and execution of the contract concluded between Toulouse and the company Pacific Heart."

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Related Words

• begin 
• commence 
• inaugurate 
• institute 
• launch 
• open 
• set up 
• take up 
• trigger