To inaugurate means to formally begin something important or to officially introduce someone into a position of authority with a special ceremony. When a new president is inaugurated, they take the oath of office in front of huge crowds and television cameras, marking the official start of their term. Schools inaugurate new principals, museums inaugurate new exhibits, and cities inaugurate bridges or buildings with ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

The word comes from ancient Roman practices where priests would look for signs from the gods before beginning major undertakings. Today, inaugurations still carry that sense of ceremony and significance. They mark fresh starts and new beginnings, which is why they often include speeches about hopes and plans for the future.

An inauguration is the ceremony itself: “The presidential inauguration takes place on January 20.” Something that's inaugural is first or beginning: an inaugural flight is an airline's very first trip on a new route, and an inaugural season is a sports team's first year of play.

Notice that we inaugurate things that matter and that will last. You wouldn't inaugurate your Tuesday afternoon, but you might inaugurate a new community center that took years to build.