# initiate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/ · frequency rank #10,558

## Definitions
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.
4. To do the first act; to perform the first rite; to take the initiative.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin initiātus, perfect passive participle of initiō (“to begin, originate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from initium (“a beginning”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), from initus (“an entrance, coming in, approach”) + -ium, from ineō + -tus, from in- + eō (“to go”). Cognate with French initier.

## Easily confused with
- **intimate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initiate-vs-intimate)
- **instigate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initiate-vs-instigate)
- **initiator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initiate-vs-initiator)
- **initiative** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initiate-vs-initiative)
- **initial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initial-vs-initiate)
- **imitate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imitate-vs-initiate)
- **initials** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initials-vs-initiate)

## Common misspellings (10)
`iintiate`, `iniitate`, `initaite`, `initiaet`, `initiatte`, `inititae`, `inittiate`, `innitiate`, `intiiate`, `niitiate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/initiate