inaugurate

verb

in·​au·​gu·​rate i-ˈnȯ-gyə-ˌrāt 

-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

i-ˈnȯ-gyə-ˌrā-tər 

-gə-ˌrā-

noun

Synonyms

• establish
• initiate
• launch
• introduce
• pioneer
• create
• found
• institute

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

Currently operating two stores in Terminal 5, WHSmith will open a further eight in the New Terminal One when it is inaugurated in 2026. —Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

Arnault, who has known Trump since his days as a real estate developer in the 1980s, invited the president to inaugurate a first Louis Vuitton factory in Texas in 2019. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 30 July 2025

Superman, the movie that inaugurates a new cinematic universe and slate from Warner Bros. Discovery division DC Studios, is a hit at the domestic box office and has fans talking (and debating) excitedly. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025

Citing comments from industry sources familiar with the matter, the South Korean publication noted that the Hanwha Ocean Global Engineering Center India was inaugurated on Sunday at an industrial hub in Noida, some 26 kilometers away from India's capital, New Delhi. —Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 31 July 2025

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

Kids Definition

inaugurate

verb

in·​au·​gu·​rate in-ˈȯ-g(y)ə-ˌrāt 

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

-ˌrāt-ər 

noun