initiative
adjective
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Definition of initiative
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of or relating to initiation : introductory, preliminary
initiative
noun
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Definition of initiative (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : an introductory step took the initiative in attempting to settle the issue
2 : energy or aptitude displayed in initiation of action : enterprise showed great initiative
3a : the right to initiate legislative action
b : a procedure enabling a specified number of voters by petition to propose a law and secure its submission to the electorate or to the legislature for approval — compare referendum sense 1
: at one's own discretion : independently of outside influence or control
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Synonyms for initiative
Synonyms: Noun
action, aggressiveness, ambition, drive, enterprise, go, hustle
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Examples of initiative in a Sentence
Adjective
Luther's daring initiative thoughts did indeed come from above, but he owed them to no man or age. — Junius B. Remensnyder, What the World Owes Luther, 1917 Many writers maintain that there is a rule of International Law forbidding the commencement of war without a declaration of war. But such rule, in fact, does not exist, for a great many wars take place without an initiative declaration of war. — Lassa Oppenheim, International Law, 1906Noun
… on the day before their Club Med flight she took the initiative of telephoning Franco from work, ostensibly to tell him that she had really admired his new place … — John Barth, Atlantic, March 1995 Following initiatives begun before the First World War, thirty-four states instituted or expanded workers' compensation laws in the 1920s. — Mary Beth Norton et al., A People and a Nation, 1988 Since the social victim has been oppressed by society, he comes to feel that his individual life will be improved more by changes in society than by his own initiative. — Shelby Steele, Harper's, June 1988 If you want to meet her, you're going to have to take the initiative and introduce yourself. The company has the opportunity to seize the initiative by getting its new products to the market before its competitors. The governor has proposed a new initiative to improve conditions in urban schools.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "I dream of caftans," 23 May 2018 The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "I dream of caftans," 23 May 2018 The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "I dream of caftans," 23 May 2018 The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "I dream of caftans," 23 May 2018 The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "I dream of caftans," 23 May 2018 The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "I dream of caftans," 23 May 2018 The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "I dream of caftans," 23 May 2018 The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "I dream of caftans," 23 May 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The one bit of bad news for legal marijuana came from North Dakota, where voters rejected an initiative that would have legalized cannabis for recreational purposes. — German Lopez, Vox, "Marijuana legalization had a pretty good election night," 7 Nov. 2018 The five bars are collaborating with an initiative organized by the Houston Zoo to ditch plastic straws and find more sustainable alternatives for customers who want to use a straw. — Greg Morago, Houston Chronicle, "Houston Zoo partnering with local bars on new straw initiative," 13 July 2018 Draper proposed in 2014 to divide California into six states, but was unable to collect the 585,000-plus signatures required for an initiative to amend the state Constitution. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "California’s three-way split: Lawsuit may take matter out of voters’ hands," 12 July 2018 Juan Antonio Blanco, the academic, activist and executive director of the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, recently announced an initiative to unmask and deport Cuban human-rights abusers now living in he United States. — Nora Gámez Torres, miamiherald, "He now hunts Cuban human-rights abusers in the U.S. Was he once an offender himself?," 12 July 2018 The placement of the containers is part of an opioid initiative the pharmacy and retailer announced last year. — Andrea K. Mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "CVS to place opioid disposal containers in its stores," 12 July 2018 An initiative to reinstate the gambling machines was deemed eligible for the fall ballot nearly two weeks after supporters dropped off boxes of signatures for review. — Nicole Blanchard, idahostatesman, "Idaho will vote this fall on legalizing horse-race gambling machines," 10 July 2018 The actress and musician, 48, is partnering up with Proctor & Gamble to launch the Queen Collective — an initiative aimed at helping more women step behind the camera. — Ale Russian, PEOPLE.com, "Queen Latifah Launches Queen Collective to Give Female Filmmakers a Chance to Tell Their Story," 6 July 2018 Earlier this year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Carlos Slim Foundation together announced an $83.6 million initiative to eliminate malaria from Central America and the Dominican Republic. — Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, "In a Rare Success, Paraguay Conquers Malaria," 6 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'initiative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for initiative
initiative
noun
English Language Learners Definition of initiative
the initiative : the power or opportunity to do something before others do
: the energy and desire that is needed to do something
: a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem
See the full definition for initiative in the English Language Learners Dictionary
initiative
noun
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Kids Definition of initiative
1 : a first step or movement I took the initiative and called first.
2 : energy shown in getting action started He's a person of great initiative.
initiative
noun
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Legal Definition of initiative
1 : the especially introductory series of steps taken to cause a desired result the deposing party would ordinarily be required to take the initiative in arranging a deposition — Andrews v. Bradshaw, 895 P.2d 973 (1995)
2a : the right to initiate legislative action
b : a procedure enabling a specified number of voters by petition to propose a law and secure its submission to the electorate or to the legislature for approval — see also referendum
: at one's own discretion : independently of outside influence, suggestion, or control the court may reduce a sentence on its own initiative — Ghrist v. People, 897 P.2d 809 (1995)
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