instigate
verb /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪt/
/ˈɪnstɪɡeɪt/
(formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they instigate | /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪt/ /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪt/ |
| he / she / it instigates | /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪts/ /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪts/ |
| past simple instigated | /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtɪd/ /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtɪd/ |
| past participle instigated | /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtɪd/ /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtɪd/ |
| -ing form instigating | /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtɪŋ/ /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtɪŋ/ |
- instigate something (especially British English) to make something start or happen, usually something official synonym bring something about
- The government has instigated a programme of economic reform.
Extra Examples- The man responsible for instigating change was Robin Darwin.
- We will instigate a comprehensive review of defence policy.
- instigate something to cause something bad to happen
- They were accused of instigating racial violence.
- Those found guilty of instigating the unrest will be punished.
Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘urge on’): from Latin instigat- ‘urged, incited’, from the verb instigare, from in- ‘towards’ + stigare ‘prick, incite’.