initiate

UK: verb: /ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/, noun: /ɪˈnɪʃiət/

US: /v. ɪˈnɪʃiˌeɪt; n. -ɪt, -ˌeɪt/

US: (v. i nish′ē āt′; adj., n. i nish′ē it, -āt′)

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

initiates

v 3rd person singular

initiating

v pres p

initiated

v past

initiated

v past p

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

in•i•ti•ate /v. ɪˈnɪʃiˌeɪt; n. -ɪt, -ˌeɪt/   v., -at•ed, -at•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to begin:
   initiated major social reforms.
2. to introduce into the knowledge of a subject:
   He initiated her into calligraphy.
3. to admit into the membership of a group:
   The club initiated twelve new members.

n. [countable]

4. a person who has been initiated:
   The new initiates had to demonstrate their allegiance to the club.

in•i•ti•a•tion /ɪˌnɪʃiˈeɪʃən/  n. 

[uncountable] Initiation into that club is expensive.

[countable] Initiations into the club usually take place in December.

in•i•ti•a•tor, n. [countable]
Synonyms

See begin.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•i•ti•ate  (v. i nish′ē āt′;adj., n. i nish′ē it, -āt′), v., -at•ed, -at•ing, adj., n. 
v.t. 

1. to begin, set going, or originate:
   to initiate major social reforms.
2. to introduce into the knowledge of some art or subject.
3. to admit or accept with formal rites into an organization or group, secret knowledge, adult society, etc.
4. Government to propose (a measure) by initiative procedure:
   to initiate a constitutional amendment.

adj. 

5. initiated;
   begun.
6. admitted into an organizaton or group, secret knowledge, etc.
7. introduced to the knowledge of a subject.

n. 

8. a person who has been initiated.

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

in•i′ti•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. commence; introduce, inaugurate, open. See begin. 
• 2. teach, instruct, indoctrinate, train.

Antonyms

• 1. conclude.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

initiate verb / ɪˈnɪʃɪˌeɪt/(transitive)

1. to begin or originate
2. to accept (new members) into an organization such as a club, through often secret ceremonies
3. to teach fundamentals to

adjective / ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt -ˌeɪt/

1. initiated; begun

noun / ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt -ˌeɪt/

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

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin initiāre (vb), from initium; see initial