TOP

Definition of initiate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

initiate

verb
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they initiate
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/
he / she / it initiates
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪts/
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪts/
past simple initiated
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪd/
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪd/
past participle initiated
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪd/
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪd/
-ing form initiating
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪŋ/
 
/ɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪŋ/
jump to other results
  1. initiate something (formal) to make something begin synonym set/put in motion
    • to initiate legal proceedings against somebody
    • The government has initiated a programme of economic reform.
    Extra Examples
    • Anyone has the right to initiate legislation in Parliament by means of a private bill.
    • Bacteria then enter the wound and initiate infection.
    • He initiated a national debate on reform.
    • The organization may initiate legal action against you.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • formally
    • immediately
    • recently
    See full entry
  2. initiate somebody (into something) to explain something to somebody and/or make them experience it for the first time
    • She was initiated into classical music by her mother.
    • His uncle initiated him into the pleasures of sailing.
  3. initiate somebody (into something) to make somebody a member of a particular group, especially as part of a secret ceremony
    • Hundreds are initiated into the sect each year.
  4. Word Originmid 16th cent. (in sense (3)): from Latin initiat- ‘begun’, from the verb initiare, from initium ‘beginning’.
See initiate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee initiate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Other results

All matches
trait
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day