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

While astronomers and space scientists were initially skeptical about the planet nine theory, there has been mounting evidence thanks to increasingly powerful observations that the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects are indeed erratic.

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

Like other miners, Viridis initially plans to export the rare earths produced at its $360 million Colossus project.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Brook initially claimed to have been alone at the nightclub in Wellington, only for it to emerge that he was alongside team-mates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

The dog case was initially linked to Andrews County, Texas, because it was submitted by a veterinarian there.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

I tell her about Tūtū being in the hospital, how I’m staying at Leo’s and can’t have her over like I initially offered.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

• originally