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
Unlike in the United States, candidates in most parts of the world cannot simply run on their own initiative. — Magda Hinojosa, Washington Post, "Women won big in Mexico’s elections — taking nearly half the legislature’s seats. Here’s why.," 11 July 2018 In 2012, Lewis became the first female athlete sponsored by KPMG, igniting the company's many efforts to empower women through golf and its leadership initiatives. — Danielle Page, USA TODAY, "The sponsor that supported this expecting LPGA star," 11 July 2018 Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:36 See Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s custom cleats for charity Advertisement NFL players have the option to wear custom cleats on Sunday against the Jets as part of the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative. — Mark Davis, kansascity, "Ohio man who scammed a Chiefs player pleads guilty to mail fraud," 10 July 2018 The chamber would prefer that Wolf focus on his workforce training initiatives or shifting to an earned income tax credit program, Densico said. — Gillian Mcgoldrick, Philly.com, "Gov. Wolf raises Pa. minimum wage for state employees to $12 per hour, $15 per hour by 2024," 9 July 2018 Those who choose to access the Service do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. — Bloomberg, "Terms of Service," 8 July 2018 Even its hardware initiatives are based on content presentation: the Chromebook's great innovation is being, essentially, a web browser tied to a minimally taxing device. — Julie Muncy, WIRED, "Can Google Really Launch a Viable Videogame Platform?," 7 July 2018 To support its initiatives, Google has purchased nearly three times as much green energy as fellow tech giants Amazon and Microsoft—and five times as much as Facebook. — Megan Michelson, Outside Online, "Kate Brandt Is Turning Google into a Green Powerhouse," 5 July 2018 The agency investigates financial disclosures on its own initiative or after tips from whistleblowers. — Charles Piller, Science | AAAS, "Hidden conflicts? Pharma payments to FDA advisers after drug approvals spark ethical concerns," 5 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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