initial Definition
- 1existing or occurring at the beginning
- 2to mark or sign with initials, typically to indicate ownership or authorship
Using initial: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "initial" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The initial stage of the project is complete.
Example
She put her initials on the bottom of the page.
Example
The company's initial public offering was a huge success.
initial Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for initial
Antonyms for initial
Phrases with initial
a set of letters representing a person's name, with the surname initial appearing first
Example
J.K. Rowling is the author's pen name; J.K. stands for Joanne Kathleen.
the amount of money needed to start a business or investment
Example
The initial investment for the startup was quite high, but it paid off in the long run.
Example
Her initial reaction to the news was shock and disbelief.
Origins of initial
from Latin 'initium', meaning 'beginning'
Summary: initial in Brief
The term 'initial' [ɪˈnɪʃəl] refers to something existing or occurring at the beginning. It can describe stages of a project, as in 'The initial stage of the project is complete,' or denote ownership or authorship, as in 'She put her initials on the bottom of the page.' 'Initial' extends into phrases like 'initial investment,' referring to the amount of money needed to start a business, and 'initial reaction,' describing the immediate response to something.