initiate Definition
- 1to cause something to begin
- 2to formally accept someone into a group or organization, usually with a ritual
Using initiate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "initiate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The company plans to initiate a new marketing campaign next month.
Example
The school will initiate a new program for gifted students.
Example
He was initiated into the secret society last night.
Example
The new member was initiated with a special ceremony.
initiate Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using initiate
to introduce someone to a new activity, group, or organization, often with a formal ceremony
Example
The fraternity initiated him into their brotherhood with a traditional hazing ritual.
to start a conversation with someone
Example
She tried to initiate a conversation with her new coworker, but he seemed uninterested.
Example
The team decided to initiate a new project to improve customer satisfaction.
Phrases with initiate
self-initiated
done or started by oneself without being prompted or instructed
Example
She took the initiative to start the project on her own, it was self-initiated.
Example
The company decided to initiate legal proceedings against their former employee.
Example
He was hesitant to initiate contact with his estranged father, but eventually decided to reach out.
Origins of initiate
from Latin 'initiare', meaning 'beginning'
Summary: initiate in Brief
The verb 'initiate' [ɪˈnɪʃieɪt] means to start or begin something, such as a project or program. It can also refer to formally accepting someone into a group or organization, often with a ritual. Examples include 'The company plans to initiate a new marketing campaign next month.' and 'He was initiated into the secret society last night.' Phrases like 'initiate legal proceedings' and idioms like 'initiate someone into something' extend the term's usage.
