WordGarden.ioinitial
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnˈɪʃəl/
US
- /ˌɪˈnɪʃəl/
Meanings
Adjective
happening or existing at the beginning
Noun
the first letter of a name or word
Verb
to mark a document with one's initials
Beyond the definition
Think of the first letter of your name: that is your initial. The word also describes anything that happens at the very beginning, like the initial shock after surprising news or the initial stage of a plan. If a doctor offers an initial consultation, that is your first meeting. If police collect initial reports, those are the first accounts they receive.
It can also be used as a verb. If you initial a document, you write the first letters of your name on it to show that you saw it or approved it. So the word can point to a first step, an early reaction, or the letters that stand for someone's name.
The word "initial" is all about the start of something. Most often, it describes the first moment, first stage, or first version. For example, "The initial reaction to the news was disbelief" means that was the first response people had before they had time to think more carefully. In the same way, "initial plans" or "initial sketches" refer to early forms that may change later.
The word is also common when talking about processes, meetings, or reports. An initial meeting is the first one. Initial findings are the first results. Initial support for an idea means early support, which may or may not grow stronger later. In science, phrases like "initial speed" or "initial conditions" refer to the starting state before something changes.
"Initial" can also be a noun. In that use, it means the first letter of a person's name. The initials of "Jane Smith" are "J.S." These letters are often used on forms, clothing, bags, or other personal items. The word can also be a verb: to initial a page means to write those letters on it, usually to show approval, review, or ownership.
So whether it describes the first part of an event, the early stage of a plan, the starting state of a system, or the first letters of a name, "initial" always points to what comes first.
Examples
- 1
Planning
My initial plan was to stay for a week, but I ended up living there for a month.
- 2
Meeting
The initial meeting went well, and both sides agreed to talk again.
- 3
First reaction
Her initial reaction was to say no, but she changed her mind later.
- 4
Setup fee
The app is free to download, but there is an initial setup fee.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Learning process
These problems are common in the initial stages of learning a new language.
- Patternin the initial stages of + process
in the early part of it
- 6
Forms
Please write your initials at the bottom of the form.
- 7
Documents
The nurse asked me to initial each page before signing the document.
- Patterninitial + document/page
write your initials on it
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- initial reaction
- initial stage
- initial assessment
- initial findings
Word family
Explore
- sequence
- starting point
Forms and spellings
6 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- initialnounverbadjective
Forms
- initialspluralnounverbadjective
- initialedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- initialledpast tensepast participleverbnounadjective
- initialing-ing formverbnounadjective
- initialling-ing formverbnounadjective