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.

Opposite of

noninitiate#Noun, novice#Noun

Synonyms

start

begin

originate

launch

commence

novice

institute

inaugurate

introduce

beginner

🔰

pioneer

embark

open

undertake

induct

found

tiro

set up

enter upon

tyro

establish

enlightened

broach

ignite

learned person

import

touch off

trigger

teach

create

savant

get going

rookie

stem

proposal

propose

cause

lead off

pundit

lead up

enter

build

employ

arrival

emit

embark on

inception

drive into

arouse

admit

Translations

iniciar

initier

einführen

engager

iniziare

iniziato

beginnen

initiieren

initié

auslösen

iniciar

entamer

Eingeweihter

Eingeweihte

commencer

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.