as in first
coming before all others in time or order
you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question
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Recent Examples of initial
Dan Simms, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The initial mission of the collaboration, the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) will have visited the asteroids earlier and impacted Dimorphos with sufficient momentum to effect a measurable change in its orbit.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
The lawyer tells you to initial every page.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for initial
Adjective
Some reviews mention gaps around flooring, the wrong color product and issues with installers failing to do everything quoted in the initial estimate.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The initial mission of the collaboration, the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) will have visited the asteroids earlier and impacted Dimorphos with sufficient momentum to effect a measurable change in its orbit.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Ecuadorian interdisciplinary artist and fashion designer launched her label, Soak (aka her initials backward), in 2021.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
The lawyer tells you to initial every page.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for initial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initial
Adjective
-
Ace right-hander Jacob deGrom, making his first start of the season after being scratched Saturday with a neck injury, cruised through the first four innings and almost made if out of the fifth, but Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run double to tie the game at 3.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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Yet this is part of a trend that’s defined the Knicks’ first season under Brown, one that also predated Brown’s arrival as a through-line over the course of last season’s playoff run.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Love and relationships could also take a surprising turn, particularly when Venus joins forces with Uranus in this Earth sign on April 23.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The rule does not force any team to hire anybody, just that the team’s pool of candidates not be like the WHITES ONLY sign on water coolers in the 1950s.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Throughout the property, the original building's bones— beams, tiles, pillars, and window frames—were gently restored to show their age and patina, not conceal it.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Judge Barrett, who handed down the original sentence, will likely be the one to do it.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
He is endorsed by the MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Swiss industrial engineering and manufacturing firm Sulzer has endorsed Spinnova’s consortium, which the Finnish firm established to advance the adoption of its fiber technology across the industry.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Manuela Moscoso is the inaugural executive and artistic director of CARA (Center for Art, Research, and Alliances) and has served as curator of the Second Bienal das Amazônias (2025), the Eleventh Liverpool Biennial (2021), and the Bienal de Cuenca (2014).—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film (May 12-20) is extending its AI For Talent Summit which will mark its second year this May after a one-day inaugural edition last year.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2024, James co-authored a new law to expand her ability to prosecute deed theft, then used that law last year to charge two people with stealing the home of a widow on hospice care in Queens.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Formally known as The Future of European Competitiveness, the report was published in September 2024 and authored by former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term directing federal agencies not to recognize the citizenship of babies born in the United States if neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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This year, Florida has already executed four people and has three other cases with death warrants signed.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Firing Room 1 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida has witnessed the liftoff of several historic Apollo missions, including the one in 1969 that put humans on the moon for the first time, and the maiden flight of Space Shuttle Columbia.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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Still, the synergy between the two will loom large as the Spurs approach the maiden postseason voyage of the Wembanyama era next month.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Initial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initial. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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