initial

adjective

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ini·tial | \ i-ˈni-shəl

Definition of initial

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : of or relating to the beginning : incipient his initial reaction

2 : placed at the beginning : first the initial word of the verse

initial

noun

Definition of initial (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : the first letter of a name

b initials plural : the first letter of each word in a full name found that their initials were identical

2 : a large letter beginning a text or a division or paragraph

3 : anlage, precursor specifically : a meristematic cell

initial

verb

initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling\ i-ˈni-sh(ə-)liŋ

Definition of initial (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to affix an initial to

2 : to authenticate or give preliminary approval to by affixing the initials of an authorizing representative

Other Words from initial Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About initial

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Synonyms & Antonyms for initial

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

Examples of initial in a Sentence

Adjective you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question Noun President Franklin D. Roosevelt's middle initial stood for “Delano.” She put her initials on each page of the contract. The initials F.D.R. stood for “Franklin Delano Roosevelt.” Verb She initialed each page of the contract.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The initial plan called for tolls on trucks only, but that has since been expanded to include other vehicles that utilize the new bridge. — al, 20 Sep. 2021 Following the creation of the initial draft recovery plan in 2012, state game agencies and officials expressed frustration with the northern areas identified in the plan. — Lindsey Botts, The Arizona Republic, 18 Sep. 2021 House Republicans said Thursday that Democrats insisted on largely moving ahead with Senate Democrats’ initial Sept. 3 legislative districts plan, with a few changes. — oregonlive, 18 Sep. 2021 A year after revealing plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the iconic Rouge Complex to build the all-electric F-150 Lightning, the automaker announced Thursday that its initial plan didn't go far enough. — Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 16 Sep. 2021 The city’s initial plan leaked on Aug. 30 in an email forwarded to news outlets, in which officials stated that public employees had until Oct. 18 to fully vaccinate or face terminations. — Peter Aitken, Fox News, 9 Sep. 2021 The initial plan was to offer Pfizer or Moderna boosters starting Sept. 20, contingent on authorization from U.S. regulators. — Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2021 The initial plan was to offer Pfizer or Moderna boosters starting Sept. 20, contingent on authorization from U.S. regulators. — Lauran Neergaard, ajc, 7 Sep. 2021 The initial plan was to offer Pfizer or Moderna boosters starting Sept. 20, contingent on authorization from U.S. regulators. — Lauren Neergaard, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Hetke had been free for about a month when someone helped Thompson get in touch with the second witness, a woman, who is identified only by a first name and last initial in the criminal complaint. — Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2021 The woman was identified in court Tuesday by her first name and the initial of her last name. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2021 And a note from Brian T. Love, who has the sort of name that demands a middle initial. — New York Times, 20 Aug. 2021 Torres bounced the throw to Rizzo at first, and a video review overturned the initial out call. — sun-sentinel.com, 1 Aug. 2021 Sharrett is thoroughly country, a live wire who speaks in a growling rasp and wears jeans with a large, Western-style belt buckle featuring his last initial. — John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press, 5 July 2021 This voucher can be used for a personalized necklace, bracelet, ring, or earrings featuring either a full name or initial. — Ashley Hughes, Chron, 30 June 2021 His initial emailed reply to the AP was overlooked. — Star Tribune, 20 May 2021 And during her tour of Scotland last month, Kate accessorized with the Alphabet Necklace by Daniella Draper that featured the first initial of each of her three children. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 18 June 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb According to Shah, she was told to initial next to each relevant statement as Bastos read them aloud. — Gabrielle Chung, PEOPLE.com, 16 June 2021 Leaders of the three countries met in 1992 in San Antonio, Texas, to initial the agreement. — David Luhnow, WSJ, 4 June 2021 Value of those tools was initially set at around $500 total and police noted that they had been initialed by the owner. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 15 Apr. 2020 The agreement was initialed and signed by Tully in March, but was not filed until April 7, according to online court records. — Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star, 17 Apr. 2020 Taylor was one of the first witnesses called Wednesday during the impeachment inquiry’s initial open hearing. — USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2019 About two weeks later, your boxes of ammo show up, each one initialed buy the loader who made them. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 8 Jan. 2020 Rickmon Tuesday ruled that eight ballots were not properly initialed by election judges before giving them to voters. — Alicia Fabbre, chicagotribune.com, 5 Nov. 2019 In 1995, Balkan leaders meeting in Dayton, Ohio, initialed a peace plan to end three and a-half years of ethnic fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina. — BostonGlobe.com, 21 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'initial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.