what about instantiate ?

In my immersion into computer programming over more than 40 years - I had never come across it. It seems to be rather recent and specific to programming.
It means, FWIW, the act/process of setting the precedent. In programming - of declaring (in some way) the variable. I always declare, but even if you don't it can be instantiated by giving it a value (the first time you do). Until then it is not found or null or in some way a bug.

Value can be anything like text or an object (think filing cabinet)