instigate

in·sti·gate

Use instigate in a sentence

verb

The definition of instigate is to start something or cause something to happen.

An example of instigate is when you start a riot or get people all worked up with your speech.

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MLA Style

"instigate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/instigate>.

APA Style

instigate. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/instigate

instigate

transitive verb

-·gat·ed, -·gat·ing

to urge on, spur on, or incite to some action, esp. to some evil: to instigate others to rebel
to cause by inciting; foment: to instigate a rebellion

Origin of instigate

from Classical Latin instigatus, past participle of instigare, to stimulate, incite from in-, in- + -stigare, to prick: for Indo-European base see stick

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"instigate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/instigate>.

APA Style

instigate. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/instigate

instigate

transitive verb

in·sti·gat·ed, in·sti·gat·ing, in·sti·gates

To initiate or bring about, often by inciting: instigate a public discussion of the issue; instigate an uprising.
To urge on; goad: tried to instigate the people to revolt.

Origin of instigate

Latin īnstīgāre īnstīgāt-; see steig- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

in′sti·ga′tion
noun

in′sti·ga′tive
adjective

in′sti·ga′tor
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"instigate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/instigate>.

APA Style

instigate. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/instigate

Verb

(third-person singular simple present instigates, present participle instigating, simple past and past participle instigated)

To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.
He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. -Bp. Warburton.

Usage notes

Commonly used with reference to evil actions; as, to instigate one to a crime.

Origin

From the Latin instigatus, past participle of instigare (“to instigate”), from prefix in- in + *stigare, akin to stinguere (“push, goad”). Akin to German stechen (“to prick”), English stick.