Initiative — meaning, pronunciation & more

Definition

readiness to embark on bold new ventures

the first of a series of actions

Pronunciation

🇺🇸American English

/ɪnˈɪʃiətˌɪv/

🇬🇧British English

/ɪnˈɪʃiətˌɪv/

🇮🇳Indian English

/ɪnˈɪʃiətˌɪv/

4 syllables Say it as /ɪnˈɪʃiətˌɪv/.

Examples

the magazine's inaugural issue
the initiative phase in the negotiations
an initiatory step toward a treaty

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

first step maiden first enterprise enterprisingness go-ahead opening move inaugural initiatory opening

Parts of Speech

noun	readiness to embark on bold new ventures
noun	the first of a series of actions
adjective	serving to set in motion “the magazine's inaugural issue”

Word Forms

enterpriser	noun	someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it
enterprising	adjective	marked by imagination, initiative, and readiness to undertake new projects
go ahead	verb	proceed (with a plan of action)
opening	adjective	first or beginning
open	verb	begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
initiate	verb	bring into being

Around the World

Europe

🇪🇸Spanish

iniciativa

disposición para embarcarse en nuevas y audaces empresas

🇮🇹Italian

iniziativa

disponibilità a intraprendere nuove audaci imprese

🇳🇱Dutch

initiatief

bereidheid om gedurfde nieuwe ondernemingen aan te gaan

🇵🇹Portuguese

iniciativa

disposição para embarcar em novos empreendimentos ousados

🇷🇺Russian

инициатива

готовность приступить к новым смелым проектам

India

🇮🇳Hindi

पहल

साहसिक नए उद्यम शुरू करने की तैयारी

🇧🇩Bengali

উদ্যোগ

সাহসী নতুন উদ্যোগ শুরু করার প্রস্তুতি

🇮🇳Tamil

முன்முயற்சி

துணிச்சலான புதிய முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொள்ள தயார்

🇮🇳Telugu

చొరవ

సాహసోపేతమైన కొత్త వెంచర్లను ప్రారంభించడానికి సంసిద్ధత

🇮🇳Marathi

पुढाकार

धाडसी नवीन उपक्रम सुरू करण्याची तयारी

🇮🇳Gujarati

પહેલ

બોલ્ડ નવા સાહસો શરૂ કરવાની તૈયારી

🇮🇳Kannada

ಉಪಕ್ರಮ

ದಿಟ್ಟ ಹೊಸ ಸಾಹಸಗಳನ್ನು ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಿದ್ಧತೆ

🇮🇳Malayalam

മുൻകൈ

ധീരമായ പുതിയ സംരംഭങ്ങൾ ആരംഭിക്കാനുള്ള സന്നദ്ധത

🇮🇳Punjabi

ਪਹਿਲਕਦਮੀ

ਦਲੇਰ ਨਵੇਂ ਉੱਦਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਤਿਆਰੀ

🇵🇰Urdu

پہل

جرات مندانہ نئے منصوبوں پر شروع کرنے کی تیاری

East & Southeast Asia

🇨🇳Chinese

倡议

准备好进行大胆的新冒险

🇯🇵Japanese

主導権

大胆な新しい事業に乗り出す準備ができている

🇰🇷Korean

계획

대담한 새로운 사업을 시작할 준비가 되어 있음

🇻🇳Vietnamese

sáng kiến

sẵn sàng bắt tay vào những dự án mạo hiểm mới táo bạo

🇹🇭Thai

ความคิดริเริ่ม

ความพร้อมในการเริ่มต้นธุรกิจใหม่ที่กล้าหาญ

🇮🇩Indonesian

prakarsa

kesiapan untuk memulai usaha baru yang berani

🇵🇭Filipino

inisyatiba

kahandaang magsimula sa matapang na mga bagong pakikipagsapalaran

🇲🇾Malay

inisiatif

kesediaan untuk memulakan usaha baharu yang berani

Middle East

🇸🇦Arabic

مبادرة

الاستعداد للشروع في مشاريع جديدة جريئة

🇮🇷Persian

ابتکار عمل

آمادگی برای شروع سرمایه گذاری های جسورانه جدید

🇹🇷Turkish

girişim

cesur yeni girişimlere başlamaya hazır olma

🇮🇱Hebrew

יָזמָה

נכונות לצאת למיזמים חדשים נועזים

Test Yourself1 / 3

What is the primary definition of the word 'initiative'?

The primary meaning of 'initiative' is 'readiness to embark on bold new ventures'.

Which of the following sentences uses the word 'initiative' in a grammatically correct way?

Using 'initiative' in a noun/adjective form makes the first sentence correct.

In which domain is the word 'initiative' most likely to appear as standard vocabulary?

'initiative' is a standard word used primarily in general literature and formal communications.

Community Poll1 / 6

How often do you encounter the word 'initiative' in your daily reading?

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Do you find 'initiative' easy to spell?

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A bit confusing

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In your opinion, does the word 'initiative' have a positive, neutral, or gloomy tone?

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Neutral

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Which age group is most likely to use 'initiative' in regular conversations?

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Teens (13-19)

Adults (20-60)

Seniors (60+)

How likely are you to use 'initiative' in a professional email?

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Would you classify 'initiative' as formal, casual, or slang?

Formal

Casual

Slang

Archaic

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