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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of initial
Noe Padilla, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
The Heat had enough interest in Memphis guard Ja Morant to make an initial call to the Grizzlies weeks ago.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 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
Adjective
But the company plans to expand its operations into 13 other major cities — two of which are Sacramento and Boston, which are in the initial phase of operations.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
The Heat had enough interest in Memphis guard Ja Morant to make an initial call to the Grizzlies weeks ago.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
The documents largely amount to a memorandum of understanding, with the two countries’ foreign ministers initialling a peace agreement, and Aliyev and Pashinyan signing a joint declaration to pursue a lasting peace.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initial
Adjective
-
The obvious first step is to gather as much light as possible.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Back in 2019, Gab Waller would never have expected that her first client as a personal shopper would be the English model and actor Rosie Huntington-Whitely.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Others involved in the protest were arrested last week, though a magistrate judge at the time refused to sign on to the initial charges for Lemon.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
There’s a sign on the door asking customers to be patient.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In 2017, McRae went back to her YouTube roots and uploaded a video of herself singing an original ballad.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The publication also reportedly saw a subscription fall-off after Bezos nixed the Post editorial page efforts to endorse Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
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Several other Democrats are contending for the deep-blue seat, including a state lawmaker who was endorsed by Hoyer.—
Hunter Woodall,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Being able to stay home and not have to leave their older child was the main reason the Schapanskys agreed to have Avry Jo be the inaugural patient.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
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Following the successful inaugural edition last year—attracting over 500 applications, 21 finalists and three winners—the 2026 program will swell its impact across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One of the books on the syllabus was authored by Bill Walsh, the genius behind the 49ers and the West Coast offense.—
Kevin Sherrington
Feb. 4,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The bill exempts a good or service that is subject to a reporting requirement or otherwise authored by an applicable rule or code of ethics.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After playing in a second-tier Canadian junior league, the younger Ward spent four years at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, then signed a series of minor-league and two-way deals after going undrafted.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Along with Tucker, the Dodgers signed three-time All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal to shore up the backend of their bullpen.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Inter Miami star served as a special guest for the vessel’s official naming ceremony ahead of its maiden voyage out of PortMiami.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2026
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During its maiden flight in May, the YH-1000 delivered cargo weighing approximately 400 kilograms.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Initial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initial. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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