- 1instigate something to cause something bad to happen They were accused of instigating racial violence.
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- 2instigate something to make something start or happen, usually something official The government has instigated a program of economic reform.
instigate
verbNAmE//ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they instigate he / she / it instigates
past simple instigated
-ing form instigating
Check pronunciation: instigate