initiate

CEFRC1

/ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To cause a process or activity to begin.

  2. 02

    noun

    A person who has recently joined a group.

Examples

  • "I'll do my best" often means "I won't initiate anything".

  • "I'll do my best" often means "I'll initiate nothing".

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Also pronounced

  • /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.ət/
  • /ɪˈnɪʃ.ɪ.eɪt/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To confer membership on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies.

  2. To instruct in the rudiments or principles; to introduce.

  3. To begin; to start.

More examples

In context

  • The team plans to initiate the project early next week.

  • How are changes of this sort to be initiated?

  • This is a very strong move, aptly timed. It initiates the tactical conception which routs Black's hopes.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

To start the machine, you must blank the power button by pressing it.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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.