What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Proceed vs Initiate - What's the difference?

proceed | initiate |

As verbs the difference between proceed and initiate

is that proceed is to move, pass, or go forward or onward; to advance; to continue or renew motion begun while initiate is to begin; to start.

As an adjective initiate is

unpractised; untried; new.

As a noun initiate is

a new member of an organization.

proceed

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To move, pass, or go forward or onward; to advance; to continue or renew motion begun.
  • to proceed on a journey.
  • To pass from one point, topic, or stage, to another.
  • To proceed with a story or argument.
  • To issue or come forth as from a source or origin; to come from.
  • Light proceeds from the sun.
  • To go on in an orderly or regulated manner; to begin and carry on a series of acts or measures; to act by method; to prosecute a design.
  • * John Locke
  • he that proceeds upon other Principles in his Enquiry
  • To be transacted; to take place; to occur.
  • * Shakespeare
  • He will, after his sour fashion, tell you / What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.
  • To have application or effect; to operate.
  • * Ayliffe
  • This rule only proceeds and takes place when a person can not of common law condemn another by his sentence.
  • To begin and carry on a legal process. (rfex)
  • Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See * Not to be confused with precede. * Many of the other English verbs ultimately derived from Latin are spelled ending in "cede", so the misspelling "procede" is common.

    Synonyms

    * progress

    Antonyms

    * regress * recede

    References

    * *

    See also

    * proceeds (noun)

    initiate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Unpractised; untried; new.
  • * Shakespeare
  • the initiate fear that wants hard use
  • (obsolete) Begun; commenced; introduced to, or instructed in, the rudiments; newly admitted.
  • * Young
  • To rise in science as in bliss, / Initiate in the secrets of the skies.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A new member of an organization.
  • One who has been through a ceremony of initiation.
  • Verb

    (initiat)
  • To begin; to start.
  • * I. Taylor
  • How are changes of this sort to be initiated ?
  • To instruct in the rudiments or principles; to introduce.
  • * Dr. H. More
  • Providence would only initiate mankind into the useful knowledge of her treasures, leaving the rest to employ our industry.
  • * John Locke
  • To initiate his pupil into any part of learning, an ordinary skill in the governor is enough.
  • To confer membership on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies.
  • * Bishop Warburton
  • The Athenians believed that he who was initiated and instructed in the mysteries would obtain celestial honour after death.
  • * Spectator
  • He was initiated into half a dozen clubs before he was one and twenty.
  • To do the first act; to perform the first rite; to take the initiative.
  • (Alexander Pope)

    Antonyms

    * (to begin) end, conclude, complete, finish