1to originate
2to initiate
3to launch (an attack, an initiative etc)
4to start
5to propose sth (for the first time)
Examples
dí rén敌人duì对wǒ men我们fā qǐ发起le了gōng jī攻击。
敌人对我们发起了攻击。
The enemy launched an attack on us.
他们发起新任务。
They launched a new mission.
他发起攻击。
He launched an attack.