initiate
initiate — verb
1. to take the first step in setting a process, plan, or activity in motion — for e
to take the first step in setting a process, plan, or activity in motion — for example, starting an investigation, launching a project, or opening a conversation with someone new.
The government initiated an official investigation into the data breach at the hospital.
initiate + investigation (formal/official context)
Aarav initiated a weekly book club after realising his coworkers wanted to read more.
The United Nations has initiated a new programme to provide clean water in rural areas.
initiate + programme / project
Once the paperwork is signed, the company will initiate the construction work next month.
- initiate a process
- initiate an investigation
- initiate a project
- initiate proceedings
- initiate a conversation
Grammar Patterns
initiate + noun phrase (a process, project, investigation, etc.)
Usage Note
Frequently used in formal or official writing — subjects are often organisations (governments, companies, committees) rather than individuals. Less formal alternatives include 'start' or 'launch'.
Common Mistakes
2. to welcome a person into a club or organisation by performing an official ceremo
to welcome a person into a club or organisation by performing an official ceremony or following a formal process — for example, a secret society inducting new members at a special gathering.
Darius was initiated into the historical society during a ceremony at the old town hall.
passive: be initiated into [group] + ceremony
Each spring the club initiates around thirty new members after a two-month trial period.
The elders initiated the young men into the tribe during the harvest festival.
initiate [person] into [group]
João was initiated into the secret recipe handed down by the bakers in his family.
New members are initiated at a special event where they learn the organisation's history.
passive: be initiated + at [event]
- initiate into
- be initiated as a member
- initiate with a ceremony
- newly initiated members
Grammar Patterns
be initiated into + group / society / organisation
Usage Note
Almost always takes 'into' when followed by the group name. The passive construction ('was initiated') is extremely common. Distinguish from verb sense 1 (START / BEGIN): in this sense the object is a person, not a thing or process.
Common Mistakes
initiate — noun
1. someone who has recently become part of a club, society, or team and has been to
someone who has recently become part of a club, society, or team and has been told about its rules and insider knowledge.
The workshop is designed for initiates who have never used the design software before.
As an initiate, Renata was paired with a senior colleague who showed her the office routines.
as an initiate — introductory role
The book explains basic theories clearly so that initiates can follow the arguments.
The group's traditions are kept secret from outsiders and explained only to new initiates.
new initiates — common collocation
- new initiate
- group of initiates
- initiate member
- initiate to the group
Grammar Patterns
initiate + of / to [group]
Usage Note
Often paired with 'new' (new initiate). More common in the plural (initiates) when referring to a cohort of newcomers. Compare with noun sense 2 (INSIDER / EXPERT), which refers to someone with deep knowledge, not a beginner.
Common Mistakes
2. a person who has deep knowledge or expertise in a particular field because they
a person who has deep knowledge or expertise in a particular field because they have been part of it for a long time — for example, someone who understands the subtle rules of a craft, discipline, or tradition.
Few initiates understand the finer points of traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
few initiates — implies exclusivity of knowledge
The lecture was too technical for the public but fascinating for initiates in the field.
Among initiates, her theory on coral reef recovery is considered the most convincing.
among initiates — set phrase for expert circles
The annual conference brings together initiates from research laboratories across Europe.
- among initiates
- few initiates
- initiates in the field
- expert
More general and widely used; focuses on skill level rather than being part of a specific group
- specialist
Someone with deep knowledge in a narrow area; common in medicine and technical fields
- insider
Emphasises access to privileged or exclusive information within a group
Grammar Patterns
among initiates
initiates in [field]
Usage Note
More common in the plural (initiates) and often preceded by 'among' or 'few'. Unlike noun sense 1 (NEW MEMBER), this sense describes someone with mastery, not a beginner. The context usually involves specialised knowledge that outsiders lack.
Common Mistakes
initiate — adjective
1. having been officially accepted as a member of a group, organisation, or office
having been officially accepted as a member of a group, organisation, or office through a proper process — for instance, an initiate member of a committee who has voting rights after completing the admission procedure.
Only initiate members of the committee may vote on the final proposal.
initiate members — attributive use
The ceremony recognised her as an initiate fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
Walid wore the special badge given to all initiate officers of the society.
Yael became an initiate member of the hiking club after her three-month trial period.
- initiate member
- initiate officer
- initiate fellow
- excluded
Deliberately kept out of a group or activity
- uninitiated
Not yet formally introduced or admitted; the direct opposite
Grammar Patterns
initiate + member / officer / participant
Usage Note
This adjective is almost exclusively used in formal or ceremonial writing. In everyday language, 'full' or 'official' is preferred instead of 'initiate'. Very rarely encountered outside of historical or institutional contexts.
Common Mistakes
2. having received instruction in special or secret knowledge that is not shared wi
having received instruction in special or secret knowledge that is not shared with people outside a group — for example, an initiate elder who knows the sacred rituals of a community.
The ancient chants are passed only to initiate students who finish the full training.
The priest as an initiate elder knew the prayers that were never spoken aloud.
initiate elder — formal/ceremonial context
Only initiate practitioners are allowed into the inner chamber of the temple.
Only a few initiate scholars have ever seen the original manuscript in the library.
- initiate elder
- initiate student
- initiate practitioner
- instructed
More general and widely used; does not imply secrecy or exclusivity
- schooled
Slightly informal; suggests systematic education or training
- enlightened
Carries spiritual or philosophical connotations beyond mere instruction
- ignorant
Lacking knowledge; stronger than 'uninformed'
- uninitiated
The direct opposite — not yet introduced to the special knowledge
Grammar Patterns
initiate + student / practitioner / elder
Usage Note
Found mainly in descriptions of traditional or religious groups where knowledge is passed through stages. For everyday contexts, 'trained' or 'experienced' is more natural.
3. relating to the process or ceremony of introducing someone into a group, such as
relating to the process or ceremony of introducing someone into a group, such as the early stages of membership or the rites performed at the beginning of a person's involvement.
The museum displayed several artefacts used in initiate ceremonies of the Maori people.
The book describes the initiate stages that all new members must go through.
initiate stages — attributive describing the process
The initiate period lasts six months, during which newcomers learn the basic rules.
The initiate rites of the fishing village are held every year before monsoon season.
- initiate ceremony
- initiate stage
- initiate period
- introductory
Common and neutral; refers to the beginning stage of anything
- preliminary
Suggests steps taken before the main event; more procedural than ceremonial
- initiatory
The standard adjective form for 'relating to initiation'; more frequent than 'initiate'
- final
The concluding stage or step
- concluding
Marking the end of a process or ceremony
Grammar Patterns
initiate + ceremony / stage / period
Usage Note
This is an extremely rare usage, mostly found in academic anthropology, religious studies, or historical writing. In almost all contexts, 'initiatory' or 'introductory' is preferred over 'initiate' as an adjective for 'relating to the process of initiation'.
Word family
- initiationnounB2
- initiativenounB2
- initiatornounC1
- initiatoryadjectiveC2
- reinitiateverbC2
- uninitiatedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words mean roughly 'to cause something to begin', but they differ in formality, scope, and typical contexts. 'Begin' is the most neutral and widely used — it works for everyday actions ('begin reading', 'begin the meal') as well as formal ones. 'Start' is slightly more informal and can imply a sudden or energetic beginning ('start the car', 'start a fight'). 'Initiate' is more deliberate and procedural: you initiate a project, an investigation, or a formal process, not a routine task. 'Launch' adds drama and visibility — products, campaigns, and organisations are launched with a public announcement. 'Commence' is the most formal, found in legal, academic, and ceremonial writing ('the ceremony will commence at noon'). In everyday speech, 'begin' or 'start' is the natural choice; in a business report or official document, 'initiate' suggests a structured beginning with defined steps.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'initiate' comes from Latin 'initiatus', the past participle of 'initiare', meaning 'to begin' or 'to initiate'. That verb in turn comes from 'initium' ('a beginning'), which was formed from 'inire' — literally 'to go into', from 'in-' ('in, into') plus 'ire' ('to go'). The sense of formally admitting someone into a group developed from the idea of letting them 'go into' a society or body of knowledge. English adopted the word in the early 17th century, and both the 'begin' and 'admit to a group' meanings have been present from the start.