as in originally
in the beginning
we initially intended to rebuild our hurricane-damaged home from the ground up
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Recent Examples of initially
The Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued a three-meter tsunami warning for the Iwate prefecture and parts of Hokkaido and Aomori – later downgraded to an advisory.
—
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Former Sheriff Alex Villanueva initially claimed his investigators found probable cause that the crash was an intentional attack on law enforcement and described the case as an attempted murder.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Everett was initially taken into custody in May 2024 on charges stemming from Weaver’s death, police said.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Police initially said that officers fatally shot Elkins at that scene, but Smith said Monday that Elkins' cause of death was still under investigation.
—Ryan Chandler, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for initially
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Former Sheriff Alex Villanueva initially claimed his investigators found probable cause that the crash was an intentional attack on law enforcement and described the case as an attempted murder.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Everett was initially taken into custody in May 2024 on charges stemming from Weaver’s death, police said.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Police initially said that officers fatally shot Elkins at that scene, but Smith said Monday that Elkins' cause of death was still under investigation.
—Ryan Chandler, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for initially
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initially
originally
Adverb
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These questions were raised after reporting by The New York Times in August 2024 regarding Moore’s untruthful claims about receiving the Bronze Star in Afghanistan — a story originally reported on in 2022 by FOX45’s Mikenzie Frost.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2026
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The Florio dynasty, once one of Sicily’s most influential families, purchased Villa Igiea from English admiral Sir William Domville in 1899, and the property was originally known as Villa Domville.—
Connor Sturges,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Initially.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initially. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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