initially

American  

[ih-nish-uh-lee] / ɪˈnɪʃ ə li /

adverb

1. happening first; at the start; in the beginning.

   Although natural gas cars cost a bit more initially, savings from lower fuel costs can help make up the difference.

   The foundation initially funded only educational programs, but later also awarded grants for emotional and social support.

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Etymology

Origin of initially

initial ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

The word initially can be used to describe an action that happened first. You might initially want fish for dinner, but then end up getting the pasta special that looks so good. The adverb initially can describe something that happened at the beginning. Initially you might have thought the apartment was too small, but then you decided to take it because of the rooftop garden. You initially wanted to go to college far from home, but decided to stay closer to be near your family. The bride-to-be initially wanted an outdoor wedding, but decided against it because of the area's unpredictable weather.

Example Sentences

Shares, which initially priced at $50, were trading at $43 on Friday morning, a discount of 14%.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Many hospitals report waits of three weeks or more just to schedule an MRI, with nearly half of appointments taking place later than initially planned, as this research shows.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

Weber, a former state Assembly member, is seeking another term after she initially was appointed to the role in 2020 by Gov. Gavin Newsom and elected by voters in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Four students were initially reported by Tacoma Fire Department to be in critical condition.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

While initially as a hunter/trapper when a child, and also later, I had witnessed the concept and reality of death.

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• originally