initiate

[ verb ih-nish-ee-eyt; adjective, noun ih-nish-ee-it, -eyt ]
/ verb ɪˈnɪʃ iˌeɪt; adjective, noun ɪˈnɪʃ i ɪt, -ˌeɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR initiate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), in·i·ti·at·ed, in·i·ti·at·ing.

adjective

noun

a person who has been initiated.

Origin of initiate

1595–1605; < Latin initiātus past participle of initiāre, equivalent to initi(um) (see initial) + -ātus -ate1

synonym study for initiate

1. See begin.

OTHER WORDS FROM initiate

Words nearby initiate

initial code, initial rhyme, initial teaching alphabet, initialism, initialize, initiate, initiating agent, initiation, initiation factor, initiative, initiator

Words related to initiate

begin, launch, institute, trigger, inaugurate, open, commence, introduce, invest, originate, pioneer, admit, install, enter, induct, intro, familiarize, coach, edify, indoctrinate

Example sentences from the Web for initiate

British Dictionary definitions for initiate

initiate

verb (ɪˈnɪʃɪˌeɪt) (tr)

to begin or originate
to accept (new members) into an organization such as a club, through often secret ceremonies
to teach fundamentals to she initiated him into the ballet

adjective (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)

initiated; begun

noun (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)

a person who has been initiated, esp recently
a beginner; novice

Word Origin for initiate

C17: from Latin initiāre (vb), from initium; see initial