inaugurate

verb

in·​au·​gu·​rate i-ˈnȯ-gyə-ˌrāt How to pronounce inaugurate (audio)
-gə-ˌrāt
inaugurated; inaugurating

transitive verb

1
: to induct into an office with suitable ceremonies
2
a
: to dedicate ceremoniously : observe formally the beginning of
inaugurate a new school
b
: to bring about the beginning of
inaugurator noun
Choose the Right Synonym for inaugurate

begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation.

begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable.

begin, opposed to end, is the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Examples of inaugurate in a Sentence

They inaugurated the new headquarters with a brief ceremony. inaugurated the college's athletic program for women
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dorsey, a lawyer in the executive branch since the Obama administration, was named acting general counsel for the White House’s Office of Administration in January, when Trump was inaugurated. Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 22 May 2025 Also in 1973, the Chilean military, with the C.I.A.’s help, deposed Chile’s president, Salvador Allende, and inaugurated what became a 17-year dictatorship. Lily Meyer, The Dial, 20 May 2025 The policy change was tied to an executive order signed on Jan. 20, when Trump was inaugurated, that called for enhanced screening and vetting across federal agencies, as well as a presidential action designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Denver Post, 20 May 2025 Bezos dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in December 2024 and was in the Capitol rotunda when Trump was inaugurated on January 20. Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for inaugurate

Word History

Etymology

Latin inauguratus, past participle of inaugurare, literally, to practice augury, from in- + augurare to augur; from the rites connected with augury

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inaugurate was in 1606

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inaugurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inaugurate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

inaugurate

verb
in·​au·​gu·​rate in-ˈȯ-g(y)ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce inaugurate (audio)
inaugurated; inaugurating
1
: to introduce into office with suitable ceremonies : install
inaugurate a president
2
: to celebrate the opening of
inaugurate a new gym
3
: to bring into being or action
inaugurate a new plan
inaugurator noun

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