initiate

American  

[ih-nish-ee-eyt, ih-nish-ee-it, -eyt] / ɪˈnɪʃ iˌeɪt, ɪˈnɪʃ i ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

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.

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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 British  

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

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adjective

1. initiated; begun

noun

1. a person who has been initiated, esp recently

2. a beginner; novice

Related Words

See begin.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of initiate

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

Example Sentences

Having realized its error, the ECB cut its key rate in November, initiating a lengthy sequence that eventually took borrowing costs below zero.

From The Wall Street Journal

That seems particularly the case with agents, which are AI systems empowered to take actions on behalf of a user, like booking an airfare or initiating a refund on a purchase.

From The Wall Street Journal

I smile and my butterflies get ready to initiate their symphony.

From Literature

He moved past familiar passages: how to call up the realms, how to initiate a Recollection, how to comfort a grieving soul.

From Literature

In a statement, ICE said staff found Ramos-Solano unresponsive in his bunk and immediately initiated life-saving measures, including CPR, while calling emergency services.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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