initiate

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To begin; to start.
2. (transitive) To instruct in the rudiments or principles; to introduce.
3. (transitive) To confer membership on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies.
4. (intransitive) To do the first act; to perform the first rite; to take the initiative.

Noun

1. A new member of an organization.
2. One who has been through a ceremony of initiation.
3. One who is oriented in and familiar with a topic or subject; especially, one who is an expert in it.

Adj

1. (obsolete) Unpracticed, untried, new.
2. (obsolete) Begun, commenced, introduced to or in the rudiments (of), newly admitted.

Synonyms

start

begin

originate

launch

commence

novice

institute

inaugurate

introduce

beginner

🔰

induct

found

open

pioneer

undertake

embark

set up

tiro

tyro

enter upon

enlightened

establish

proposal

lead up

learned person

propose

create

get going

pundit

lead off

rookie

cause

stem

teach

savant

touch off

trigger

ignite

broach

import

insert

install

instigate

instruct

introduction

invite

involve

issue

kick off

lead

learner

limb

member

move

neophyte

newbie

newcomer

novitiate

onset

open up

organize

precede

preface

prelude

projection

promotion

provoke

publish

recommendations

reveal

send

set

set in motion

shoot

spark

spark off

sponsor

starter

start out

start up

stimulate

stir up

suggest

suggestion

take up

uncover

usher

versed

bully off

enlistee

fellow member

set to

strike up

take the first step

take the initiative

make a beginning

cause to begin

be the cause of

military recruit

pave the way for

abecedarian

lay the faundation

activate

admit

affiliate

apprentice

arouse

arrival

attempt

auspicate

author

become

build

catechumen

chela

construct

convert

disclose

drive into

embark on

emit

employ

enter

entrant

face off

familiarize

fellow

fledgeling

form

formulate

get started

give forth

go

ground

implement

inception

inchoate

initialize

initiated

initiation

initiative

Translations

iniciar

initier

engager

einführen

beginnen

initiieren

entamer

Eingeweihter

auslösen

Eingeweihte

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin initiātus, perfect passive participle of initiō (“to begin, originate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from initium (“a beginning”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), from initus (“an entrance, coming in, approach”) + -ium, from ineō + -tus, from in- + eō (“to go”). Cognate with French initier.