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
While her exit initially shocked fans, viewers who watched the three reunion episodes gained context for her departure.
—
Giana Levy, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Thanks to its initially unbeatable V6 turbo hybrid technology, Mercedes won eight consecutive constructors’ championships — but much of this was thanks to the German manufacturer’s early proficiency in MGU-H design.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
And while nine out of 10 workers at the Environmental Protection Agency were initially set to be locked out, there is reporting that suggests the number is far smaller.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
More than a year removed from the strikes, the entertainment industry hasn’t returned to filming in the region as initially expected.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for initially
Giana Levy, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Thanks to its initially unbeatable V6 turbo hybrid technology, Mercedes won eight consecutive constructors’ championships — but much of this was thanks to the German manufacturer’s early proficiency in MGU-H design.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
And while nine out of 10 workers at the Environmental Protection Agency were initially set to be locked out, there is reporting that suggests the number is far smaller.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
More than a year removed from the strikes, the entertainment industry hasn’t returned to filming in the region as initially expected.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for initially
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initially
originally
Adverb
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This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on October 7, 2025, with current information.—
Kristin Braswell,
AFAR Media,
7 Oct. 2025
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Leonardo DiCaprio is being eyed to portray Chris Shiherlis, the bank robber originally played by Val Kilmer.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Initially.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initially. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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