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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

initiate

/ˌɪˈnɪʃiˌeɪt/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:55
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What does initiate mean?

verb

  1. To begin; to start.
  2. To instruct in the rudiments or principles; to introduce.
  3. To confer membership on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies.
More meanings (6)

verb

  1. To do the first act; to perform the first rite; to take the initiative.

noun

  1. A new member of an organization.
  2. One who has been through a ceremony of initiation.
  3. One who is oriented in and familiar with a topic or subject; especially, one who is an expert in it.

adjective

  1. (obsolete) Unpracticed, untried, new.
  2. (obsolete) Begun, commenced, introduced to or in the rudiments (of), newly admitted.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˌɪˈnɪʃiˌeɪt/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Both Houses shall vote upon projects of law submitted to it by the Government, and may respectively initiate projects of law.
JapanThe Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889Project Gutenberg ebook #613
Three influential writers, who appeared at this stage and helped to initiate a new period of research, may specially be mentioned.
A. C. (Albert Charles) SewardDarwin and Modern ScienceProject Gutenberg ebook #1909
More book examples (3)
Before Kulan Tith could issue the commands that would initiate the investigation a handsome young officer stepped forward and addressed his jeddak.
Edgar Rice BurroughsThe warlord of MarsProject Gutenberg ebook #68
“Was such a lighting-up of faith, in life, Only allowed initiate, set man’s step In the true way by help of the great glow?”
Robert Browning; Hiram CorsonAn Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's PoetryProject Gutenberg ebook #260
This is the specific process by which the most advanced industrial organizations develop machine hands and initiate skilled mechanics into house methods and requirements.
Walter Dill ScottIncreasing Human Efficiency in Business A Contribution to the Psychology of BusinessProject Gutenberg ebook #1319