inaugurate

verb

in·​au·​gu·​rate i-ˈnȯ-gyə-ˌrāt How to pronounce inaugurate (audio)
-gə-ˌrāt
inaugurated; inaugurating

transitive verb

1
: to induct into an office with suitable ceremonies
2
a
: to dedicate ceremoniously : observe formally the beginning of
inaugurate a new school
b
: to bring about the beginning of
inaugurator noun
Choose the Right Synonym for inaugurate

begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation.

begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable.

begin, opposed to end, is the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Examples of inaugurate in a Sentence

They inaugurated the new headquarters with a brief ceremony. inaugurated the college's athletic program for women
Recent Examples on the Web Bill Clinton was inaugurated in January 1993, ending 12 years of Republican dominance of the executive branch, while ushering a brand of centrism that married social progressivism with economic boosterism. Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Most recently, on Jan. 22, 2024, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Hindu temple in Ayodhya on the site of a mosque that had been built in 1528 but violently destroyed in 1992 by Hindu radicals, after a century of controversies over the land. Ahmet T. Kuru, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024 After seven years of construction, Algeria has inaugurated the largest mosque in Africa. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 When Seth Meyers inaugurated his version of Late Night in 2014, the guests on his first show were Amy Poehler and then Vice President Joe Biden. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 During the weeks after Congress counts the votes and before Inauguration Day, a winning candidate's running mate becomes the president and will be inaugurated in the case of the president-elect becoming unable to serve. USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 Here, 1916 will inaugurate The 1916 Journe Gallery, featuring a perpetual collection of F.P. Journe timepieces. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024 Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president on January 20, 2009. Robert Rapier, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 The weekend before the anniversary, Erdogan made a trip to the area, inaugurating two new hospitals in Hatay. Scott McLean, CNN, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inaugurate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin inauguratus, past participle of inaugurare, literally, to practice augury, from in- + augurare to augur; from the rites connected with augury

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inaugurate was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near inaugurate

Cite this Entry

“Inaugurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inaugurate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inaugurate

verb
in·​au·​gu·​rate in-ˈȯ-g(y)ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce inaugurate (audio)
inaugurated; inaugurating
1
: to introduce into office with suitable ceremonies : install
inaugurate a president
2
: to celebrate the opening of
inaugurate a new gym
3
: to bring into being or action
inaugurate a new plan
inaugurator noun

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