German word

initiieren

Pronunciation

IPA/init͡siˈiːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbstart

Example

Wir initiieren heute ein Pilotprojekt.

We are starting a pilot project today.

Illustration for initiieren (start)

More examples

Die Kommission initiierte gestern eine Diskussion.

The commission initiated a discussion yesterday.

Core concept

A formal decision moves a planned project from paper into active operation.

Common phrases

  • ein Projekt initiieren

    initiate a project

  • eine Diskussion initiieren

    initiate a discussion

  • Maßnahmen initiieren

    initiate measures

Similar words

anfangen: Start a task or action at a specific moment.
starten: Set a device, event, or process in motion.
einleiten: Carry out the opening steps of a meeting or formal procedure.
beginnen: Begin formally, as an event, period, or official activity.

Definition in German

den Beginn eines Projekts, einer Maßnahme oder eines Prozesses offiziell herbeiführen

Word origin

Initiieren comes from Latin initiāre, 'to begin or introduce', which is derived from initium, 'beginning', and entered German as a learned borrowing.

Usage tips

  • Initiieren is a formal transitive verb, so its direct object is accusative, as in ein Pilotprojekt initiieren; starten is more usual in casual speech.

Other meanings

  • launchverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word