initiate

Sayi-NISH-ee-ayt/ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/

As a noun or adjectivei-NISH-ee-uht

Verbinitiates, initiating, initiated

Noun pluralinitiates

9 meanings of initiate

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To make something start or begin.
Like pressing the start button to make a machine begin working.
The mayor will initiate a new recycling program next month.
They initiated the project after months of planning.
Similarstart (entry), begin, launch, institute, commence
Oppositeend, terminate, conclude, halt
Note
2
verbtransitive
To make someone a member of a group, often through a special ceremony.
Like welcoming a new player onto a team with a special first-day event.
The club will initiate three new members at Friday's meeting.
They initiated her into the society with an old ritual.
Similarinduct, admit, enroll
Oppositeexpel
Note
3
verbtransitive
To teach someone the basic parts of a subject for the first time.
Like showing a new student where everything is on their first day at school.
The coach will initiate the beginners into the basic rules of chess.
Her grandfather initiated her into the craft of baking bread.
Similarintroduce, induct, familiarize, instruct
Note
4
nouncountable
A person who has just joined a group or club.
Like the new kid who just joined the class.
Every initiate received a handbook on their first day.
The initiates gathered in the hall to meet the older members.
Similarnewcomer, recruit, inductee, novice, neophyte
Oppositeveteran
5
nouncountable
A person who has gone through the special ceremony to join a group.
Like someone who has passed the test to join a special club.
The initiate knelt before the altar as the rite began.
After the ceremony, the new initiates were given their robes.
Similarinductee, adept
Oppositeoutsider, layperson
6
nouncountable
A person who knows a subject well, often an expert in it.
Like a person who knows all about a hobby that others find confusing.
Only an initiate could follow the wine expert's detailed talk.
The lecture was aimed at initiates rather than curious newcomers.
Similarexpert, insider, adept, connoisseur, specialist
Oppositenovice
Note
7
verbintransitive
To be the one who acts or starts first.
Like being the first person to jump into the cold water.
When no one else moved, she chose to initiate.
In a tense room, whoever initiates often sets the tone.
Similaract
Note

Less common meanings

8
adjectiveobsolete
Just begun, or newly brought into a group or subject.
To rise in science as in bliss, / Initiate in the secrets of the skies.
1744, [Edward Young], “Night the Sixth. The Infidel Reclaim’d. In Two Parts. Containing, the Nature, Proof, and Importance of Immortality.…Here, initiate means newly let in and just beginning to learn something.
Note
9
adjectiveobsolete
New and without practice or experience.
Like a driver who has never been on a real road before.
The initiate soldier had never seen real battle.
the initiate fear that wants hard use
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”Here, initiate means new and untried, without experience.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–3, 7

From Latin initiō meaning "to begin," which comes from initium meaning "a beginning."

Meanings 4–6

From the adjective used as a noun; see etymology 1.

Meanings 8–9

From Latin initiātus; see etymology 1.