ini·tial
i-ˈni-shəl 
1
: of or relating to the beginning : incipient
his initial reaction
2
: placed at the beginning : first
the initial word of the verse
initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling
i-ˈni-sh(ə-)liŋ
1
: to affix an initial to
2
: to authenticate or give preliminary approval to by affixing the initials of an authorizing representative
Examples of initial in a Sentence
Adjective
you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question
Noun
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's middle initial stood for “Delano.”
She put her initials on each page of the contract.
The initials F.D.R. stood for “Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”
Verb
She initialed each page of the contract.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
The film added an additional $30 million overseas, propelling its initial worldwide tally to $60 million.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 22 June 2025
Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Health issues ended the tour early, almost exactly a year ago, but Neil quickly recruited the Chrome Hearts, with the same initials but also the same fighting spirit.
Not to mention the same guitarist — 34-year-old Micah Nelson, who saw his first Neil show at his dad’s Fourth of July Picnic.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
Reuters, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
One ballot was tossed out because it wasn’t initialed by an election judge, and Balich won the position via a lottery.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for initial
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Adjective
The project saw its construction costs triple from an initial request for proposals estimate of $54 million in 2021 to its final budget of $152 million, which was presented to the University of California Board of Regents for approval in 2022.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
The film added an additional $30 million overseas, propelling its initial worldwide tally to $60 million.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 22 June 2025
Noun
In July 2024, someone registered three new companies in Delaware using the initials of Don Jr., Eric and Barron—DJT Jr DEFI LLC, ET DEFI LLC and BWT DEFI LLC.
—Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Health issues ended the tour early, almost exactly a year ago, but Neil quickly recruited the Chrome Hearts, with the same initials but also the same fighting spirit.
Not to mention the same guitarist — 34-year-old Micah Nelson, who saw his first Neil show at his dad’s Fourth of July Picnic.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
Verb
The two countries and the United States said on Wednesday that their technical teams initialed a draft peace agreement that is expected to be signed next week.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
One ballot was tossed out because it wasn’t initialed by an election judge, and Balich won the position via a lottery.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for initial
Cite this Entry
“Initial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/initial. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
initial
1 of 3 adjective
ini·tial
in-ˈish-əl
1
: of, relating to, or existing at the beginning : earliest
initial stages of a disease
2
: placed or standing at the beginning : first
the initial letter of a word
initial
2 of 3 noun1
: a first letter of a name
2
: a large letter beginning a text or paragraph
initial
3 of 3 verb
initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling
-ˈish-(ə-)liŋ
: to mark with initials or an initial
initial a handkerchief
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