initially

adverb

ini·​tial·​ly i-ˈni-sh(ə-)lē How to pronounce initially (audio)
: at the beginning : at first
The reason I initially came here was to find work.
It turned out that the situation was not as serious as we had initially believed.
Initially, the symptoms are mild.

Examples of initially in a Sentence

we initially intended to rebuild our hurricane-damaged home from the ground up
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Sacramento Police Department initially arrested Hernandez Santana on Friday night, but he was released on bail the next day. Denise Petski, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025 Merriwether is a skeptic, who initially isn't too keen on the partnership. Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2025 Hernandez’s remains were initially found earlier this month but not identified until days later by the Los Angeles County medical examiner. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 22 Sep. 2025 Lancaster, 54, opened up about the pair’s early days as a couple to the British magazine Saga, and revealed that Stewart — who at the time was a father of six — initially did not want to have more children. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for initially

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of initially was circa 1628

Cite this Entry

“Initially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/initially. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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