| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | initiate something; start a function |
| Synonyms: | actify, actuate, arouse, call up, energize, impel, mobilize, motivate, move, prompt, propel, rouse, set in motion, start, stimulate, stir, switch on, take out of mothballs, trigger, turn on |
| Notes: | when something is activated, it is made active; when something is actuated, it is moved to take action (or produce a consequence) to actuate is a general word meaning 'to set working' and has more to do with mechanical action - while activate is used mainly in scientific expressions |
| Antonyms: | arrest, stop |
| Main Entry: | impel |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | prompt, incite |
| Synonyms: | actuate, boost, compel, constrain, drive, excite, foment, force, goad, induce, influence, inspire, instigate, jog, lash, mobilize, motivate, move, oblige, poke, power, press, prod, propel, push, require, set in motion, shove, spur, start, stimulate, thrust, urge |
| Notes: | impel means to urge or encourage while compel means to take action as a result of pressure or coercion; impel is very similar in meaning to compel but suggests even more strongly an inner drive to do something and often a greater urgency in the desire to act |
| Antonyms: | delay, dissuade, repress, slow, suppress |
| Main Entry: | inaugurate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | begin; install |
| Synonyms: | bow, break in, break the ice, commence, commission, dedicate, get things rolling, get under way, induct, initiate, instate, institute, introduce, invest, jump, kick off, launch, make up, open, ordain, originate, set in motion, set up, start, usher in |
| Antonyms: | adjourn, close, end, stop, uninstall |
| Main Entry: | induce |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause to happen; encourage |
| Synonyms: | abet, activate, actuate, argue into, breed, bring about, bring around, bulldoze, cajole, cause, coax, convince, draw, draw in, effect, engender, generate, get up, get*, give rise to, goose, impel, incite, influence, instigate, lead to, make, motivate, move, occasion, persuade, press, prevail upon, procure, produce, promote, prompt, sell one on, set in motion, soft-soap, squeeze, steamroll, suck in, sway, sweet-talk, talk into, twist one's arm, urge, wheedle, win over |
| Antonyms: | discourage, halt, hinder, prevent |
| Main Entry: | initiate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | start, introduce |
| Synonyms: | admit, begin, break the ice, come out with, come up with, commence, dream up, enter, get ball rolling, get feet wet, get under way, inaugurate, induct, install, instate, institute, intro, invest, kick off, launch, make up, open, originate, pioneer, set in motion, set up, take in, take up, trigger, usher in |
| Antonyms: | close, conclude, end, finish, terminate |
| Main Entry: | institute |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | begin; put into operation |
| Synonyms: | appoint, bow, break in, bring into being, come out with, come up with, commence, constitute, create, enact, establish, fix, found, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, introduce, invest, launch, make up, open, open up, ordain, organize, originate, pioneer, rev, set in motion, set up, settle, start, usher in |
| Antonyms: | cease, halt, prevent, stop |
| Main Entry: | launch |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | send off |
| Synonyms: | barrage, bombard, bung, cast, catapult, discharge, dispatch, drive, eject, fire, fling, heave, hurl, lance, pitch, project, propel, send forth, set afloat, set in motion, shoot, sling, throw, toss |
| Antonyms: | hold, keep |
| Main Entry: | mobilize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | ready for action, movement |
| Synonyms: | activate, actuate, animate, assemble, call to arms, call up, catalyze, circulate, drive, gather, get ready, impel, make ready, marshal, muster, organize, prepare, propel, put in motion, rally, ready, set in motion, set off |
| Antonyms: | check, demobilize, end, halt, hold back, stop |
| Main Entry: | open |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | begin |
| Synonyms: | begin business, bow, commence, convene, embark, get things rolling, inaugurate, initiate, jump, kick off, launch, meet, raise the curtain, ring in, set in motion, set up shop, sit, start, start the ball rolling |
| Antonyms: | close, conclude, end, finish, shut |