What is inaugurate? Pronunciation and usage in English

inaugurate means . Learn how to pronounce and use inaugurate through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of inaugurate

inaugurateverb

/ɪˈnɔːɡjəreɪt//ɪˈnɔːɡjəreɪt/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "inaugurate." It's a tricky word! Here's a breakdown with phonetic transcriptions and tips:

1. Phonetic Transcription (IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet):

/ɪˈnɔːɡʊˌ.eɪ.t/

Let's break that down:

  • ɪ – as in "bit" (a short, quick 'i' sound)
  • ˈ – This indicates the primary stress - it falls on the first syllable ("in-").
  • ɔː – This is the tricky one! It’s a long ‘o’ sound, like in "caught" or "bought." It's a rounded vowel – you’ll feel your lips rounding as you say it. This is the stressed syllable.
  • ɡ – as in "go"
  • ʊ – as in "foot" (a short, rounded 'u' sound)
  • ˌ – This indicates a secondary stress - it falls on the second syllable ("aug-").
  • eɪ – as in "say" (a diphthong – a blending of two vowel sounds)

2. How to Say It (Step-by-Step):

  1. "In": Say "in" quickly and clearly.
  2. "Au-": Now, say "ow" like in "cow" or "how," but stretch it out a little. This is the stressed part. Think of the ‘aw’ sound.
  3. "gu-rate": Say "gu-rate" quickly, with a soft “g” sound – like in “go.”
  4. "ate": Finish with “ate” as in “late.”

3. Putting it Together:

Try saying it slowly: “Ih-NOW-guh-RAYT”

Then speed it up a bit: "In-AU-gu-RATE"

4. Tips for Pronunciation:

  • Stress is Key: The biggest difficulty for people is getting the stress on the right syllable. Really emphasize the “au-” syllable.
  • The ‘aw’ sound: Practice saying "cow," "how," or "caught" repeatedly to get the rounded 'aw' sound right.
  • Don't say "inaug-u-rate": Many people naturally break it into three syllables, but it’s actually one word.

Resources for Hearing It:

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly for you?
  • Give you some more practice words that have similar sounds?

Usage and examples with the word inaugurate in English

Let's break down how to use the word "inaugurate." It's a powerful word with a specific meaning, and it's often confused with similar-sounding words.

1. Primary Meaning: To Officially Invest (Especially of a President)

  • What it means: The most common and well-known use of "inaugurate" is to formally and ceremonially induct someone into a position of high office, especially a president. It’s about the beginning of their term.
  • Example: “President Biden was inaugurated on January 20, 2021, marking the start of his administration.”
  • Key elements: This usage involves a formal ceremony, oaths, speeches, and a sense of national unity.

2. Broader Meaning: To Officially Introduce or Open

  • What it means: Beyond politics, "inaugurate" can mean to formally introduce, open, or begin something new – a project, a policy, a system, or an event. It carries the idea of a deliberate and planned starting.
  • Examples:
    • "The company will inaugurate a new marketing campaign next quarter." (meaning they'll officially launch it)
    • “The museum inaugurated a new exhibit on ancient Egypt.” (meaning they officially opened it to the public)
    • “The city inaugurated a new public transportation system.” (meaning they officially started it.)
    • “The researchers inaugurated a study on climate change.” (meaning they officially began the study).

3. Less Common Usage: To Initiate (A Process)

  • What it means: Occasionally, "inaugurate" can be used to describe the starting of a procedure or process. This usage is less frequent.
  • Example: "The board of directors inaugurated a new policy on employee conduct." (meaning they formally began to implement the policy).

Tips for Using "Inaugurate" Correctly:

  • Formal Tone: "Inaugurate" has a formal and somewhat elevated tone. It’s not a word you’d typically use in casual conversation.
  • Focus on Formal Beginning: Always think about the idea of a formal beginning or official start.
  • Synonyms (for broader meanings): If you're not talking about a political inauguration, consider using synonyms like: launch, introduce, commence, begin, start, initiate.

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Usage Meaning Example
Political Officially induct into office “She was inaugurated as the new CEO.”
General Officially introduce or open "The university inaugurated a new library."
Process/Procedure To begin a process or procedure “The team inaugurated the training program.”

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me tailor my explanation even further, could you tell me:

  • What context are you thinking of when you want to use the word "inaugurate"? (e.g., a political discussion, describing a business event, etc.)

Synonyms for the word inaugurate

Practice with vocabulary inaugurate

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The university will ____________ its state-of-the-art research facility next month, marking a significant advancement in scientific exploration.
  2. Before proceeding, the project manager will ____________ the meeting with a brief overview of our quarterly targets.
  3. Following the election, the newly appointed governor will ____________ a series of bold environmental policies.
  4. The company needs to ____________ clear procedures for handling customer data to ensure compliance with privacy regulations.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers)

  1. The city council decided to _______ a new cultural festival to boost tourism and local engagement. (A) commence (B) found (C) inaugurate (D) initiate (E) establish

  2. The President will _______ the newly constructed bridge, a project that took five years to complete. (A) dedicate (B) open (C) launch (D) inaugurate (E) activate

  3. The board of directors is preparing to _______ a comprehensive review of the company's financial performance. (A) undertake (B) commence (C) formalize (D) initiate (E) propose

  4. Next month, the organization plans to _______ a mentorship program aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs. (A) inaugurate (B) kick off (C) establish (D) implement (E) install

  5. After much anticipation, the new CEO will be formally _______ at a ceremony next Friday. (A) appointed (B) installed (C) celebrated (D) inaugurated (E) sworn in

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The committee officially started the new policy on remote work last Tuesday. (Rewrite using a form of "inaugurate")
    • Rewrite:
  2. The company is introducing an innovative software platform that will fundamentally change how we collaborate. (Rewrite using a form of "inaugurate")
    • Rewrite:
  3. The city plans to inaugurate a new bike-sharing scheme to promote sustainable transportation. (Rewrite without using "inaugurate" or its forms)
    • Rewrite:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. inaugurate
  2. commence
  3. inaugurate
  4. establish

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. (A) commence, (C) inaugurate, (D) initiate, (E) establish
  2. (A) dedicate, (B) open, (C) launch, (D) inaugurate
  3. (A) undertake, (B) commence, (D) initiate
  4. (B) kick off, (C) establish, (D) implement
  5. (B) installed, (D) inaugurated, (E) sworn in

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The committee officially inaugurated the new policy on remote work last Tuesday.
  2. The company is inaugurating an innovative software platform that will fundamentally change how we collaborate.
  3. The city plans to launch a new bike-sharing scheme to promote sustainable transportation.

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