instigate
Americanverb
-
to bring about, as by incitement or urging
to instigate rebellion
-
to urge on to some drastic or inadvisable action
Other Word Forms
- instigatingly adverb
- instigation noun
- instigative adjective
- instigator noun
- uninstigated adjective
- uninstigative adjective
Etymology
Origin of instigate
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin instīgātus, past participle of instīgāre “to goad on, impel,” equivalent to in- “in” + -stīg- “to goad, prick” + -ātus past participle suffix; in- 2, -ate 1; akin to stigma, stick 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As such, instigating its own investigation without a referral is relatively rare.
From BBC
Five members of the Board were suspended for instigating the letter.
From BBC
After the England loss, former Wales captain Gwyn Jones said Welsh rugby bosses should not waste a crisis and must instigate immediate major change.
From BBC
The inquiry report said there was "general agreement" that Creative Scotland had provided "significant support" to the culture sector since it was instigated by the government in 2010.
From BBC
His statements could have "inadvertently instigated or emboldened opportunistic armed groups that are seeking to exploit international narratives by attacking soft targets", Obasi said.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
