inaugurate

[ in-aw-gyuh-reyt, -guh- ]

verb (used with object)

, in·au·gu·rat·ed, in·au·gu·rat·ing.

1. to make a formal beginning of; initiate; commence; begin:

   The end of World War II inaugurated the era of nuclear power.

2. to induct into office with formal ceremonies; install.
3. to introduce into public use by some formal ceremony:

   Airmail service between Washington, D.C., and New York City was inaugurated in 1918.

inaugurate

/ ɪnˈɔːɡjʊˌreɪt; -trɪ; ɪnˈɔːɡjʊrətərɪ /

verb

1. to commence officially or formally; initiate
2. to place in office formally and ceremonially; induct
3. to open ceremonially; dedicate formally

   to inaugurate a factory

Derived Forms

• inauguratory, adjective
• inˈauguˌrator, noun
• inˌauguˈration, noun

Other Words From

• in·augu·rator noun
• prein·augu·rate verb (used with object) preinaugurated preinaugurating
• rein·augu·rate verb (used with object) reinaugurated reinaugurating
• unin·augu·rated adjective
• well-in·augu·rated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inaugurate¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin inaugurātus, past participle of inaugurāre “to consecrate by augury (a person chosen for priesthood or other office),” literally, “to take auguries”); in- ², augur ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inaugurate¹

C17: from Latin inaugurāre, literally: to take omens, practise augury, hence to install in office after taking auguries; see in- ², augur

Example Sentences

“I have faith that very soon all this region is going to be pacified and brotherhood and concord will return,” he said during a recent visit to La Concordia to inaugurate a new bridge.

From Los Angeles Times

The country had hoped to officially inaugurate the city on the 79th anniversary of its declaration of independence in 1945 after centuries of Dutch rule and then Japanese occupation during World War Two.

From BBC

Other venues are trying a dual track: Amsterdam, for example, is seeking to crack down on public drunkenness, discourage gawkers in the famous red-light district and curtail holiday apartment rentals — going so far as to inaugurate a “Stay Away” campaign aimed mainly at British stag partyers — while enticing visitors to venture outside the tiny confines of the city’s canal-lined center.

From Los Angeles Times

Lina Khan’s Federal Trade Commission has used antitrust law to inaugurate a new era of economic oversight, banning predatory noncompete agreements against workers, cracking down on megamergers, and targeting various outrages from Silicon Valley as violations of privacy and fair play.

From Slate

One new initiative is a principals’ academy, which will inaugurate a two-year training regimen for aspiring administrators.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• commence
• dedicate
• induct
• initiate
• introduce
• launch
• open
• set up