To save this word, you'll need to log in.
ini·ti·ate | \ i-ˈni-shē-ˌāt 
\
\initiated; initiating
Definition of initiate
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
nounini·tiate | \ i-ˈni-sh(ē-)ət \
\Definition of initiate (Entry 2 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
initiate
adjectiveini·tiate | \ i-ˈni-sh(ē-)ət \
\Definition of initiate (Entry 3 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
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from initiate
Verb
initiator \ i-ˈni-shē-ˌā-tər \ noun
\ nounSynonyms & Antonyms for initiate
Synonyms: Verb
- begin,
- constitute,
- establish,
- found,
- inaugurate,
- innovate,
- institute,
- introduce,
- launch,
- pioneer,
- plant,
- set up,
- start
Antonyms: Verb
Visit the Thesaurus for More
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Dominic Cummings drove from his home in London to his parents’ Durham farm on March 27, only a few days after Johnson initiated a national lockdown.
—
Fox News, "Boris Johnson resists calls to fire top aide who drove 250 miles to visit parents during lockdown," 24 May 2020 Fuentes initiated email contact with officials at IHS, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, the agency said.
—
Derek Willis, ProPublica, "The Feds Gave a Former White House Official $3 Million to Supply Masks to Navajo Hospitals. Some May Not Work.," 22 May 2020 If a lifeguard does need to make a water rescue, physical contact with the victim should only be initiated if absolutely necessary, McCrady says.
—
Megan Mccluskey, Time, "How the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Forcing Lifeguards to Try to Protect Themselves While Working to Save Lives," 18 May 2020 The Trump administration reversed the first attempt, initiated in the waning days of the Obama administration, after Mr. Trump announced a massive arms sale package on a visit to Saudi Arabia in 2017.
—
Michael Laforgia, New York Times, "President Barack Obama got the U.S. involved in the first place," 16 May 2020 Since the Health Command Operations Center initiated the first curfew on Easter weekend, the police department has issued more than 1,305 citations, Tsosie said.
—
Jamie Landers, azcentral, "Navajo police issue 217 citations during fifth 57-hour curfew weekend," 15 May 2020 Students cannot initiate virtual meetings so they will be created and supervised by staff.
—
Alec Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Nicolet High School peer tutoring program has moved online, just like classes," 12 May 2020 Lappos is one of eight women who have alleged that Biden initiated unwanted or inappropriate physical contact with them.
—
Emilie Munson, SFChronicle.com, "Exclusive: Joe Biden accuser Amy Lappos says, ‘I don’t want to be weaponized’," 9 May 2020 Nirenberg said the city has seen widespread compliance with social distancing measures at businesses that reopened Friday following Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order initiating the first phase of a statewide economic reopening.
—
Diego Mendoza-moyers, ExpressNews.com, "Community COVID-19 cases continue to increase in San Antonio area; no new deaths reported," 2 May 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The project mostly caters to initiates, who can test its observations against their prior knowledge of Ferrante, but the authors themselves seem attracted to the role of the amateur.
—
Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, "A New Book on Elena Ferrante Rethinks What Criticism Can Be," 6 Feb. 2020 On Election Day, Colorado voters will be asked to consider a ballot initiate directing Colorado Parks and Wildlife to import wolves from the north and turn them loose by 2023.
—
Ben Long, Outdoor Life, "Colorado Braces for Wolves as Politics Clash with Wildlife Management," 13 Jan. 2020 The team could also self-initiate calls, show up in outreach worker’s role to connect a homeless person to services or act as a mental health worker, as dispatched through Multnomah County’s crisis line.
—
oregonlive, "Homeless first responder team to be housed in Portland fire bureau under new proposal," 15 Nov. 2019 When the spray was spent, the initiates formed two lines and crawled towards the dais.
—
Sean Williams, Harper's magazine, "The Black Axe," 19 Aug. 2019 Like other ideological movements, Randism brims with a jargon of authenticity, tailored to reinforce the sense of belonging for young initiates.
—
Alexander Sammon, The New Republic, "The Last of the Ayn Rand Acolytes," 14 Aug. 2019 The plan outline several initiates to help manage officers’ time and improve accountability.
—
Jessica Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Here are 5 main takeaways new crime plan from Baltimore Police commissioner Harrison’s," 18 July 2019 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 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The office will oversee the DWP’s internal audit and special investigations divisions, as well as initiate investigations, the mayor’s office said.
—
Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, "DWP, reeling from scandals and FBI raids, gets a new watchdog office," 13 Sep. 2019
See MoreThese 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.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for initiate
initiate
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of initiate
(Entry 1 of 2)
formal : 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
initiate
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of initiate (Entry 2 of 2)
: a person who is being formally accepted or who has been formally accepted as a member of a group or organization
See the full definition for initiate in the English Language Learners Dictionary
initiate
verbini·ti·ate | \ i-ˈni-shē-ˌāt \
\initiated; initiating
Kids Definition of initiate
1 : to set going : begin Scientists initiated an experiment.
2 : to admit into a club by special ceremonies
3 : to teach (someone) the basic facts about something
She was initiated into the management of money.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on initiate
What made you want to look up initiate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
May 2020 Words of the Day Quiz
- Which is a synonym of exiguous?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share initiate
Time Traveler for initiate
The first known use of initiate was in 1533
See more words from the same year