initiate
verb
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Definition of initiate
(Entry 1 of 3)
initiate
adjective
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Definition of initiate (Entry 2 of 3)
initiate
noun
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Definition of initiate (Entry 3 of 3)
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Other Words from initiate
Verb
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noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for initiate
Synonyms: Verb
begin, constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start
Antonyms: Verb
close (down), phase out, shut (up)
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Examples of initiate in a Sentence
Verb
Doctors have initiated a series of tests to determine the cause of the problem. The company initiated judicial proceedings against them. The new recruits will be initiated tomorrow night. He was initiated into a secret society.Noun
These secrets are known only to a small group of initiates.
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
All-Metro midfielder Tyquan Stroud and Van Danielson are a dynamic one-two punch to initiate the offense and defender Dmitri Jordan, a four-year starter, keeps things in check in back. — Glenn Graham, baltimoresun.com, "2019 Baltimore-area boys soccer preseason Top 15 poll," 28 Aug. 2019 Based on the real experiences of an FBI agent who initiated the bureauâs profiling of serial killers, the Netflix drama undoubtedly benefits from the American publicâs timeless fascination with true crime. — cleveland.com, "How the same actor ended up playing Charles Manson in âMindhunterâ and âOnce Upon a Time in Hollywoodâ," 23 Aug. 2019 One proposal would increase the size of rewards by initiating a statewide program that would apply credits for EVs at the point of purchase. — Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Some electric vehicle drivers will receive $850 in credit on their SDG&E bills," 23 July 2019 Keep in mind: Andre Iguodala, who was traded to Memphis so the Warriors could accommodate Russellâs four-year, $117 maximum contract, was a valuable ballhandler capable of initiating the offense. — Connor Letourneau, SFChronicle.com, "Five things to watch from Warriors at Las Vegas summer league," 4 July 2019 With Davis in the second unit, Malik Beasley, Monte Morris and Will Barton would be free to initiate offense and Davis could mop up the glass. — Mike Singer, The Denver Post, "Nuggets free agency: 8 realistic targets in wake of Denverâs Paul Millsap decision," 29 June 2019 Thatâs why at the start of the next school year, New York City is revolutionizing its school system by initiating the nationâs most comprehensive approach to social-emotional learning in every classroom. — Chirlane Mccray, Fortune, "Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray: Why We're Introducing Social-Emotional Learning in New York City Schools," 20 June 2019 Culver does a little bit of everything - creating with the ball in his hands, initiating the offense, shooting off the dribble, capably defending multiple positions - with no maintenance required. — Ben Golliver, courant.com, "2019 NBA mock draft: How will Pelicans build around Zion Williamson?," 18 June 2019 On July 7, a shaman group led guests into a ceremony area by initiating a traditional dance called fuego. — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, "The Bride Wore Luar and Celebrated Indigenous Traditions at This Wedding in Mexico," 2 Aug. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
When the spray was spent, the initiates formed two lines and crawled towards the dais. — Sean Williams, Harper's magazine, "The Black Axe," 19 Aug. 2019 Like other ideological movements, Randism brims with a jargon of authenticity, tailored to reinforce the sense of belonging for young initiates. — Alexander Sammon, The New Republic, "The Last of the Ayn Rand Acolytes," 14 Aug. 2019 The plan outline several initiates to help manage officersâ time and improve accountability. — Jessica Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Here are 5 main takeaways new crime plan from Baltimore Police commissioner Harrisonâs," 18 July 2019 More mature initiates have the benefit of experience to guide them through an informed choice. — Brennan Kilbane, WSJ, "Youâre Not Too Old for a Tattoo," 25 July 2018 Like many initiates, Drotar, a landscaper and father of two who drives a pickup truck, spends a lot of time explaining the organizationâs strange name. — Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, "A rural Maryland chapter of the Odd Fellows society fights to save its 1850s building â and memories within," 25 Apr. 2018 Democrats say 3,200 incoming freshmen will be eligible for the initiate in the next fiscal year. — Sandra Gomez-aceves, courant.com, "5 Areas Of Common Ground In Democratic, Republican Budget Proposals," 21 Apr. 2018 Journalist Frank Parlato, who first broke the story about the cult, told the New York Post that Mack came up with the idea of branding initiates' skin, near their groin area. — Fox News, "'Smallville' actress Allison Mack arrested for alleged sex cult involvement, reports say," 20 Apr. 2018 Today, Kappa Alpha Theta has more than 145 chapters in the US and Canada, with nearly 220,000 initiatesâincluding famous sisters such as Tory Burch, Sheryl Crow, Laura Bush, Melinda Gates, Dylan Lauren, and Cindy McCain. — Nadine Jolie Courtney, Town & Country, "Which Sorority Was Actually the First?," 18 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'initiate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.