Link Centre Dictionary

initiative

ini·tia·tive

UK/ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.tɪv/ US/ˌɪˈnɪʃjʌtɪv/ fairly common us
noun (2) adjective (1)

noun

1.
2.

the first of a series of actions

  • “he memorized all the important chess openings”
Synonyms

adjective

1.

serving to set in motion

  • “the magazine”
  • “;”
  • “;”
  • “;”
  • “;”
  • “s maiden voyage”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From French initiative, from Medieval Latin *initiativus (“serving to initiate”), from Late Latin initiare (“to begin, to initiate”), from Latin initium (“beginning”), from ineo (“enter, begin”). By surface analysis, initiate + -ive.

Phrases

  • direct initiative
  • mixed initiative
  • popular initiative
  • seize the initiative
  • take the initiative

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.