inaugurate

UK: /ɪnˈɔːgjəreɪt/

US: /ɪnˈɔgjəˌreɪt, -gə-/

US: (in ô′gyə rāt′, -gə-)

Inflections of 'inaugurate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

inaugurates

v 3rd person singular

inaugurating

v pres p

inaugurated

v past

inaugurated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•au•gu•rate /ɪnˈɔgyəˌreɪt, -gə-/   v. [~ + object] , -rat•ed, -rat•ing. 

1. to make a formal beginning of; begin:
   The end of World War II inaugurated the era of nuclear power.
2. Government to put (someone) into office with formal ceremonies;
   install:
   He was inaugurated in January.
3. to introduce or cause to begin:
   Airmail service was inaugurated in 1918.

in•au•gu•ra•tion /ɪnˌɔgyəˈreɪʃən, -gə-/  n. 

[uncountable] inauguration of the new space flights.

[countable] Inaugurations are held in January.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•au•gu•rate  (in ô′gyə rāt′, -gə-), v.t., -rat•ed, -rat•ing. 

1. to make a formal beginning of;
   initiate;
   commence;
   begin:
   The end of World War II inaugurated the era of nuclear power.
2. Government to induct into office with formal ceremonies;
   install.
3. to introduce into public use by some formal ceremony:
   Airmail service between Washington, D.C., and New York City was inaugurated in 1918.

• Latin inaugurātus past participle of inaugurāre to consecrate by augury (a person chosen for priesthood or other office), literally, to take auguries). See in-², augur, -ate¹
• 1595–1605

in•au′gu•ra′tor, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

inaugurate / ɪnˈɔːɡjʊˌreɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to commence officially or formally; initiate
2. to place in office formally and ceremonially; induct
3. to open ceremonially; dedicate formally: to inaugurate a factory

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin inaugurāre, literally: to take omens, practise augury, hence to install in office after taking auguries; see in-², augur

inˌauguˈration noun

inˈauguˌrator noun

inauguratory / ɪnˈɔːɡjʊrətərɪ -trɪ/ adjective