initiate
/ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/- 1.
To begin something in a deliberate and often formal way. The person who initiates something is the one who takes the first step to make it happen.
- The government initiated a nationwide campaign to reduce pollution.
- She initiated a conversation about the project delays.
- The hospital initiated a new policy to improve patient safety.
- 2.
To formally introduce someone into a group, organization, or area of knowledge, often through a special ceremony or process.
- New recruits are initiated into the program during their first week.
- He was initiated into the research team after passing a rigorous review.
A person who has recently been accepted into a group or who has been taught the basics of something new.
- As an initiate, she was still learning the organization's rules.
- The initiates met every evening for their training sessions.
Adinary Nuance
"Initiate" sits in a cluster of words that all mean "to begin" — but they are not interchangeable. "Start" and "begin" are everyday words used in any situation, while "initiate" carries a sense of deliberate, formal action — it signals that a person or institution is consciously putting something in motion. "Commence" is similarly formal but is more common in legal and ceremonial British English ("proceedings commence"); "initiate" stresses who is taking the first step, not just the fact that something is starting. "Launch" shares the formal register but adds a public, high-energy feel — you launch a product or campaign, but you initiate a review, a process, or a dialogue. In IELTS and academic writing, "initiate" is a strong choice when you want to show agency: "The government initiated reforms" is sharper than "The government started reforms."
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Khởi xướng
- Spanish
- Iniciar
- Chinese
- 发起
- Japanese
- 開始する
- Korean
- 시작하다
Etymology
From Latin "initiare" (to begin, to let in), rooted in "initium" (beginning), itself from "inire" (to go into). The word entered English in the late 16th century, first in the sense of beginning a formal process or admitting someone to a group.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'initiate' more formal than 'start' or 'begin'?
- Yes. 'Initiate' is significantly more formal. It is well-suited for academic essays, business reports, and IELTS writing tasks. In everyday speech, 'start' or 'begin' sound more natural.
- What is the difference between 'initiate' and 'launch'?
- 'Launch' suggests a public, energetic beginning — like a product launch or a campaign. 'Initiate' is quieter and more procedural; it focuses on who deliberately takes the first step, often in formal or institutional contexts.
- Can 'initiate' be used as a noun?
- Yes. As a noun, an 'initiate' (pronounced /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.ət/) refers to someone new to a group or body of knowledge. This noun form is less common than the verb in everyday or academic use.
- Is 'initiate' a good word for IELTS Writing Task 2?
- Yes, it is a strong academic vocabulary choice. Using 'initiate' instead of 'start' in phrases like 'initiate a reform' or 'initiate dialogue' can raise the lexical resource score in IELTS.