inaugurate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make a formal beginning of; initiate; commence; begin.
The end of World War II inaugurated the era of nuclear power.
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to induct into office with formal ceremonies; install.
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to introduce into public use by some formal ceremony.
Airmail service between Washington, D.C., and New York City was inaugurated in 1918.
verb
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to commence officially or formally; initiate
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to place in office formally and ceremonially; induct
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to open ceremonially; dedicate formally
to inaugurate a factory
Usage
What does inaugurate mean? Inaugurate most generally means to formally or officially take action to begin something. Close synonyms are the verbs initiate and commence.More specifically, inaugurate means to officially induct someone into a position with a formal ceremony. A close synonym of this sense of the word is install.The noun inauguration refers to the process of inaugurating or a ceremony in which a person or thing is inaugurated. Things involving or related to inauguration can be described with the adjective inaugural.U.S. presidents are inaugurated—officially inducted into office and sworn in—on Inauguration Day, on which they usually give their inaugural address (speech).Inaugurate can also mean to introduce something into use with a formal ceremony. A new factory or public building might be inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony or a dedication ceremony, for example.In every sense of the word, inaugurate implies at least some formality.Its general sense—meaning to initiate or commence—is typically used in the context of events considered important, such as historical eras, as in The rise of the empire inaugurated a period of renewed warfare. Example: In the U.S., presidents are elected in November, but their terms don’t officially begin until they are inaugurated in January.
Other Word Forms
- inauguration noun
- inaugurator noun
- inauguratory adjective
- preinaugurate verb (used with object)
- reinaugurate verb (used with object)
- uninaugurated adjective
- well-inaugurated adjective
Etymology
Origin of inaugurate
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
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.
Modi and Macron will also inaugurate on Tuesday India's first helicopter final assembly line via videoconference from Mumbai, a joint venture between India's Tata Group and Airbus.
From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026
The truth is that the stock-market crash did not inaugurate the Great Depression, nor did people at the time believe that it did.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025
But this time, newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited the King himself to inaugurate the new parliament.
From BBC • May 27, 2025
One new initiative is a principals’ academy, which will inaugurate a two-year training regimen for aspiring administrators.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024
The nation’s capital city was getting ready to inaugurate a new president the following month.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
