initial
of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process.
Phonetics. occurring at the beginning of a word or syllable, as the (k) sound of kite, chasm, or quay.
an initial letter, as of a word.
the first letter of a proper name.
a letter of extra size or an ornamental character used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book, manuscript, or the like.
to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, especially as a token of preliminary or informal approval.
Origin of initial
1Other words from initial
- in·i·tial·er, noun
- in·i·tial·ly, adverb
- pre·in·i·tial, verb (used with object)
- sub·in·i·tial, verb (used with object), sub·in·i·tialed, sub·in·i·tial·ing or (especially British) sub·in·i·tialled, sub·in·i·tial·ling.
- un·in·i·tialed; (especially British) un·in·i·tialled, adjective
Words Nearby initial
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use initial in a sentence
However, going beyond these monetization efforts “isn’t the initial focus” of Verify’s roll-out, Ostrow said.
Why local broadcaster Tegna is making a big bet on its fact-checking vertical Verify | Sara Guaglione | February 12, 2021 | DigidayThe initial reaction to Mori’s outburst among Japan’s elderly, conservative male elite was to brush off the outrage.
Japan Olympics chief who said women talk too much will resign over remarks, reports say | Simon Denyer, Julia Mio Inuma | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostAn initial project I’m looking into involves sensitive questions for specific groups.
Can I Ask You a Ridiculously Personal Question? (Ep. 451) | Stephen J. Dubner | February 11, 2021 | FreakonomicsInstead, the Housing Commission decided it should seek data to support the research project since the consultants that responded to the initial request didn’t have utility data the agency decided it wanted to use – and getting it would take a while.
Vacancy Tax Study Is Giving City Officials Déjà Vu | Lisa Halverstadt and Andrew Keatts | February 10, 2021 | Voice of San DiegoThe initial alerts came to the attention of the Lincoln Project in early August in the form of inquiries about Weaver from the New York Post.
Lincoln Project’s avowed ignorance of Weaver texts undercut by leaked communications | Chris Johnson | February 9, 2021 | Washington Blade
“The U.S. Navy will attain IOC [initial operational capability] in 2018 with 3F software,” DellaVedova wrote.
In an interview with ESPN, Jaffe recalled his initial meeting with Stuart Scott.
Remembering ESPN’s Sly, Cocky, and Cool Anchor Stuart Scott | Stereo Williams | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTypically, aircraft will work in pairs where the flight lead will make an initial pass to mark a target with rockets.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019 | Dave Majumdar | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThey maintain that the initial radicalization tends to occur offline before it is then reinforced online.
What follows is some of my initial reporting on the rise of the group, published in Wingnuts.
The Oath Keepers Patrol Rooftops in Ferguson—The Facts Behind This ‘Mysterious’ Militia Group | John Avlon | December 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe initial syllables of Ulysses and of Rutherford make an inclusion by sound.
Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)Sometimes only the initial consonants of the words or phrases or sentences are used.
Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)Lower initial cost and lower operation expense are factors which especially recommend the light-weight models.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge | VariousIt is true, I could see them; but not with sufficient distinctness to insure the proper insertion of the initial threads.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist | Alexander BerkmanIt was the initial stroke of a young man I propose to adopt into my home and heart; the same who brought you here to-night.
The Circular Study | Anna Katharine Green
British Dictionary definitions for initial
/ (ɪˈnɪʃəl) /
of, at, or concerning the beginning
the first letter of a word, esp a person's name
printing a large sometimes highly decorated letter set at the beginning of a chapter or work
botany a cell from which tissues and organs develop by division and differentiation; a meristematic cell
(tr) to sign with one's initials, esp to indicate approval; endorse
Origin of initial
1Derived forms of initial
- initialer or initialler, noun
- initially, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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