Definition of inauguratenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word inaugurate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of inaugurate are begin, commence, initiate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

How does the word begin relate to other synonyms for inaugurate?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How is commence related to other words for inaugurate?

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

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When is it sensible to use initiate instead of inaugurate?

The words initiate and inaugurate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

Where would start be a reasonable alternative to inaugurate?

In some situations, the words start and inaugurate are roughly equivalent. However, start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How do usher in and inaugurate relate to one another?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of inaugurate After Pan Am inaugurated service to Asia, Humphrey Bogart played Capt. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 Virunga National Park is the oldest nature reserve in Africa, inaugurated in 1925, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026 Among the historical artists appearing are Conceptual artist Bettina (1927–2020), whose solo exhibition at Cento gallery will be her first ever in the UK, and artist and photographer David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992), whose solo show will inaugurate the Carlton Place Gallery at the Modern Institute. News Desk, Artforum, 20 Mar. 2026 The hostages were eventually released — on the day Republican Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inaugurate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inaugurate
Verb
  • The Korean’s quartet of assists was one shy of the MLS single-game record set by Lionel Messi last year, and established a new high for LAFC.
    Josh Gross, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Year one established the foundation.
    Aaron Segal, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The rescue dog from Huntington Beach, California, who worked as a dedicated therapy dog comforting veterans, was a five-time dog surfing world champion and was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame in 2024, according to the Surfers' Hall of Fame website.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Heat owner Micky Arison was inducted into Hall as part of the shrine’s 2025 class.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The ground launch sequencer, or a computer that tells the rocket when to launch, will initiate terminal count.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The session, which lasted one hour Tuesday night, was open to anyone who had pre-registered through a Zoom link initiated through Amazon Data Centers Online Community Information.
    Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Most homeowners purchase and install new flooring in the spring or summer, so the best time to buy flooring for discounts is in the late fall or early winter.
    Dan Simms, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The Kane County Health Department has partnered with community organizations to install publicly accessible naloxone dispensing boxes, making the life-saving medication easier to obtain quickly and discreetly.
    Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In January, Grok launched new Business and Enterprise plans aimed at corporations.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The main lagoon was the first to open, and the property’s line of skincare launched in 1995, which can be tested from the swim-up face mask kiosk in the center of the main lagoon.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The spa was introduced in 2005, and in the same year, Silica, a clinic hotel aimed at housing those visiting for psoriasis treatment, was opened.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
  • While many people have been introduced to English choral services through the angelic voices of the choristers in flowing robes and Elizabethan ruffs who sing at royal weddings and carol services, choirs perform every day in much more humble settings.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Deep-blue Massachusetts pioneered the voluntary stretch codes, which reduce carbon emissions and energy use beyond base-code requirements.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The United States will be in a far stronger position to win the artificial intelligence race if government works with, rather than against, the companies pioneering frontier technology.
    Editorial Board, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The avalanche descended approximately 400 vertical feet down a face of Perry’s Peak, creating a debris field about 100 feet wide, the report said.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inaugurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inaugurate. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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