initiate

¹ini·ti·ate

transitive verb \i-ˈni-shē-ˌāt\

ini·ti·at·edini·ti·at·ing

Definition of INITIATE

1

: to cause or facilitate the beginning of : set going <initiate a program of reform> <enzymes that initiate fermentation>

2

: to induct into membership by or as if by special rites

3

: to instruct in the rudiments or principles of something : introduce

— ini·ti·a·tor \-ˌā-tər\ noun

Examples of INITIATE

1. Doctors have initiated a series of tests to determine the cause of the problem.
2. The company initiated judicial proceedings against them.
3. The new recruits will be initiated tomorrow night.
4. He was initiated into a secret society.

Origin of INITIATE

Late Latin initiatus, past participle of initiare, from Latin, to induct, from initium

First Known Use: 1533

Related to INITIATE

Synonyms

begin, constitute, establish, inaugurate, found, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start

Antonyms

close (down), phase out, shut (up)

Related Words

author, father, originate; conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, produce, think (up); construct, put up; develop, enlarge, expand; endow, finance, fund, subsidize; arrange, organize, systematize, systemize; refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch

Near Antonyms

abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify; end, finish, halt, stop, terminate; round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

See Synonym Discussion at begin

Rhymes with INITIATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate

²ini·tiate

adjective \i-ˈni-sh(ē-)ət\

Definition of INITIATE

1

a : initiated or properly admitted (as to membership or an office)

b : instructed in some secret knowledge

2

obsolete : relating to an initiate

First Known Use of INITIATE

1537

³ini·tiate

noun \i-ˈni-sh(ē-)ət\

Definition of INITIATE

1

: a person who is undergoing or has undergone an initiation

2

: a person who is instructed or adept in some special field

Examples of INITIATE

1. These secrets are known only to a small group of initiates.

First Known Use of INITIATE

1811