INAUGURATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inaugurate mean? 

• INAUGURATE (verb)
  The verb INAUGURATE has 3 senses:

1. commence officially

2. open ceremoniously or dedicate formally

3. be a precursor of

  Familiarity information: INAUGURATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INAUGURATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they inaugurate    ... he / she / it inaugurates   
Past simple: inaugurated   
Past participle: inaugurated   
-ing form: inaugurating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Commence officially

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

inaugurate; kick off

Hypernyms (to "inaugurate" is one way to...):

commence; embark on; start; start up (get off the ground)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inaugurate"):

swear in (administer on oath to)

dedicate (open to public use, as of a highway, park, or building)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

inauguration (the act of starting a new operation or practice)

inauguration (the ceremonial induction into a position)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Open ceremoniously or dedicate formally

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "inaugurate" is one way to...):

open (begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

inauguration (the act of starting a new operation or practice)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be a precursor of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

inaugurate; introduce; usher in

Context example:

The fall of the Berlin Wall ushered in the post-Cold War period

Hypernyms (to "inaugurate" is one way to...):

begin; commence; lead off; start (set in motion, cause to start)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

augury (an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come)