initiate

verb ini·ti·ate \ i-ˈni-shē-ˌāt \

Definition of initiate

initiated; initiating

transitive verb

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

—

initiator

play \i-ˈni-shē-ˌā-tər\ noun

See initiate defined for English-language learners

See initiate defined for kids

Examples of initiate in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of initiate from the Web

Soon after, a study with Bert Vogelstein at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, showed that TCF-4 also helps initiate human colon cancer.

— gunjan sinha, Science | AAAS, "This scientist is building miniature guts, livers, and lungs that could save your life one day," 23 Aug. 2017
Simmons, who along with Orr were initiated as undergraduate members into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at Lincoln.

— glenn e. rice, kansascity, "Slain Lee’s Summit police officer sought to be change agent," 21 Aug. 2017
The Academies committee has noted there is still a tremendous amount of research needed before trying to move forward with something like initiating pregnancies.

— dina fine maron, Scientific American, "Embryo Gene-Editing Experiment Reignites Ethical Debate," 2 Aug. 2017
Scaramucci, who initiated the call, did not ask for the conversation to be off the record or on background.

— bess levin, The Hive, "“I Want to F*cking Kill All the Leakers”: Scaramucci Explodes in Unhinged Late-Night Rant," 27 July 2017
The child’s visa process, initiated last August and costing Ali more than $900 to date, has now been suspended indefinitely.

— kristal brent zook, Essence.com, "How Donald Trump's Travel Ban Attempts Have Deeply Wounded Black Families And Individuals," 18 July 2017
The two armies often accuse each other of initiating firing across the cease-fire line.

— Washington Post, "World Digest: July 17, 2017," 17 July 2017
More important, cops don’t usually initiate their contact with the person who is shot.

— nick selby, National Review, "Police Aren’t Targeting and Killing Black Men," 17 July 2017
Mr Khan will doubtless initiate a fresh round of disruptive demonstrations demanding the prime minister’s resignation.

— The Economist, "A corruption probe threatens to undo Pakistan’s prime minister," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'initiate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of initiate

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

See Words from the same year

initiate Synonyms

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

Synonym Discussion of initiate

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

initiate

adjective ini·tiate \ 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

initiate

noun ini·tiate \ 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

See initiate defined for English-language learners

Examples of initiate in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of initiate from the Web

And there are questions about the effectiveness of such programs, and in some instances, concern that some initiates — and penalties — have gone too far.

— laura petrecca, USA TODAY, "Google manifesto spotlights enduring sexism issues," 10 Aug. 2017
Payne in the hills of northeast Alabama, waiting for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take him into custody and likely initiate deportation proceedings.

— connor sheets, AL.com, "Alabama Dreamer faces deportation after failing to signal, driving with empty beer bottles," 9 July 2017
Abakuá is a secret society restricted to male initiates, with a foundational story based on an act of female betrayal.

— holland cotter, New York Times, "From Cuba, a Stolen Myth," 22 June 2017
In one of Divergent's pivotal moments, Tris, trying to prove herself as a Dauntless initiate, jumps off a building to show her fearlessness — a task Shailene Woodley's stunt double, Alicia Vela-Bailey, handled for the film.

— alyssa bailey, Cosmopolitan, "Watch Shailene Woodley's Stunt Double Jump 66 Feet for "Divergent"," 21 July 2014

First Known Use of initiate

1811

INITIATE Defined for English Language Learners

initiate

verb

Definition of initiate for English Language Learners

: to cause the beginning of (something) : to start or begin (something)
: to formally accept (someone) as a member of a group or organization usually in a special ceremony
: to teach (someone) the basic facts or ideas about something