initiate

verb

ini·ti·ate | \ i-ˈni-shē-ˌāt

initiated; initiating

Definition of initiate

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

initiate

adjective

ini·tiate | \ i-ˈni-sh(ē-)ət

Definition of initiate (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : initiated or properly admitted (as to membership or an office)

b : instructed in some secret knowledge

2 obsolete : relating to an initiate

initiate

noun

ini·tiate | \ i-ˈni-sh(ē-)ət

Definition of initiate (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : a person who is undergoing or has undergone an initiation

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

Other Words from initiate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about initiate

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Choose the Right Synonym for initiate

Verb

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 initiate in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The calendar didn’t indicate who initiated the call or what was discussed. — Paul Kiernan, WSJ, "Fed’s Powell Spoke With Trump in May Amid White House Criticism of Rate Policy," 5 July 2019 The congressman's attorneys are trying to get the charges dismissed, arguing that prosecutors who initiated the investigation are admirers of Hillary Clinton and want to see Hunter, an early supporter of President Donald Trump, driven from office. — CBS News, "Embattled Rep. Duncan Hunter tells judge corruption case is political bias," 1 July 2019 Haufe grew up in East Germany during the Cold War, and their introduction to the world of poster-making was furtive and largely self-initiated. — Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, "How Posters Became Art," 1 July 2019 As The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant detailed well here, Parker is best used as a power forward who can initiate the offense from all over the floor. — Kellen Becoats, SI.com, "No More Balance in L.A.: Sparks Continue to Struggle Despite Candace Parker’s Return," 24 June 2019 Rather than the flighty object of desire who gets manhandled by Billy in the movie, Antoinette Lily — played by Amanda Leigh Jerry — is a no-nonsense type who initiates show improvements. — Daryl H. Miller, latimes.com, "A fun ‘Bronco Billy’ roams the Wild West to a disco beat," 11 June 2019 Inmates who initiated the incident were sent to Pelican Bay State Prison and placed in administrative segregation, and CDCR notified its Inspector General’s Office, according to the release. — Wes Venteicher, sacbee, "40 inmates riot at Northern California prison camp, injuring corrections staffer," 4 June 2019 The labor market overhaul that Rajoy’s government initiated in 2012 helped lay the foundation for the economic rebound, though the reform push stalled after his center-right party lost its majority in 2015. — Rodrigo Orihuela, Bloomberg.com, "How Spain Got Its Swagger Back," 19 June 2018 Yes, Pence’s brown-nosing of Trump is cringeworthy to those not initiated in the cult. — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Actually, Pence’s Toadying Is His Best Shot at Becoming President," 17 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

More mature initiates have the benefit of experience to guide them through an informed choice. — Brennan Kilbane, WSJ, "You’re Not Too Old for a Tattoo," 25 July 2018 Like many initiates, Drotar, a landscaper and father of two who drives a pickup truck, spends a lot of time explaining the organization’s strange name. — Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, "A rural Maryland chapter of the Odd Fellows society fights to save its 1850s building — and memories within," 25 Apr. 2018 Democrats say 3,200 incoming freshmen will be eligible for the initiate in the next fiscal year. — Sandra Gomez-aceves, courant.com, "5 Areas Of Common Ground In Democratic, Republican Budget Proposals," 21 Apr. 2018 Journalist Frank Parlato, who first broke the story about the cult, told the New York Post that Mack came up with the idea of branding initiates' skin, near their groin area. — Fox News, "'Smallville' actress Allison Mack arrested for alleged sex cult involvement, reports say," 20 Apr. 2018 Today, Kappa Alpha Theta has more than 145 chapters in the US and Canada, with nearly 220,000 initiates—including famous sisters such as Tory Burch, Sheryl Crow, Laura Bush, Melinda Gates, Dylan Lauren, and Cindy McCain. — Nadine Jolie Courtney, Town & Country, "Which Sorority Was Actually the First?," 18 May 2017 Bayou Greenway day changes location each year in an effort to involve all of the communities, and to promote the fact that once the initiate is completed, many different parts of the city will be connected. — Rebecca Hazen, Houston Chronicle, "Bayou Greenway Day to highlight Houston Parks Board project," 13 Mar. 2018 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

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.