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# instigate

verb (instigate, instigates, instigated, instigating)

«instigate» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To start something or make it happen, such as an inquiry, a plan or changes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#m1)
2. To stir up or encourage trouble, a fight or bad behaviour, often while staying in the background. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used in news, school reports and the exam voice: «the head teacher instigated new rules». In playground stories it often names the one who started the trouble: «Who instigated the fight?». It helps a reader see who is responsible, which matters in fairness and ethics lessons. Related noun: «instigator» (the person who starts it), «instigation» («at his instigation» = because he urged it).

### Examples

- The council instigated a plan to make the park safer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#x1)
- The teacher wanted to know who had instigated the food fight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#x2)
- Jake didn't throw anything, but he instigated the whole argument. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#x3)
- The school instigated a new reading programme for every class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#x4)
- Police instigated an investigation after the window was smashed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#x5)
- She was accused of instigating the trouble on the bus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#x6)
- The changes were made at the instigation of the parents' group. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: instigated, instigating. The instigator is often blamed more than the others, even if they did less with their own hands. Not the same as «investigate» (to look into something) – a common mix-up: police investigate a fight; a troublemaker instigates it.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «instigate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instigate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«instigate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/instigate.html) on Mova free.