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Initiative Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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initiative

ini-tia-tive

🇺🇸 /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ · 🇬🇧 /ɪnˈɪʃiətˌɪv/

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

take the initiative

the ability to assess and initiate things independently; the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do

Synonyms

drive, enterprise, ingenuity, leadership.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
initiative

Commonly used to describe someone taking the first step or being proactive, especially in a work or community setting.

  • She showed great initiative by starting the new project on her own
enterprise

Typically used in a business context to describe a project or venture that involves risk and initiative.

  • The new tech startup is an ambitious enterprise that could revolutionize the industry
drive

Often used to refer to someone's motivation and determination, especially in achieving goals or pursuing tasks.

  • His drive to succeed is what sets him apart from others in his field
leadership

Refers to the ability to guide or manage people, often used in organizational or group settings.

  • His leadership during the crisis was instrumental in keeping the team focused and motivated
ingenuity

Used to highlight someone's cleverness or creativity, particularly in problem-solving or inventing new things.

  • Her ingenuity in creating unique solutions was recognized with an innovation award

Examples of usage

  • He took the initiative to organize a charity event.
  • She always shows great initiative in her work.
Context #2 | Noun

political initiative

a plan or program intended to resolve a problem or improve a situation; a new idea or method that is proposed or implemented

Synonyms

campaign, project, scheme, strategy.

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Word Description / Examples
initiative

Something that is started or introduced to achieve an aim or solve a problem. Often used in professional or formal environments when referring to new plans or actions.

  • The company launched a new initiative to improve customer satisfaction.
  • Her initiative to recycle waste has been successful.
campaign

A series of activities or events designed to achieve a specific goal, often used in political, marketing, or social contexts.

  • The mayor's campaign for re-election was very successful.
  • The charity is running a campaign to raise awareness about climate change.
project

A planned piece of work or an activity that is done over a period of time with specific goals, often used in academic, professional, or creative contexts.

  • We are working on a new project to develop renewable energy sources.
  • Her research project focuses on the impact of social media on teenagers.
scheme

A systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a specific objective, often used in British English or formal contexts. Can also have a negative connotation when used to describe a devious or dishonest plan.

  • The government announced a new scheme to support small businesses.
  • His scheme to defraud investors was discovered by the authorities.
strategy

A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim, commonly used in business, military, or competitive environments.

  • Our marketing strategy focuses on targeting younger consumers.
  • The general developed a bold strategy to tackle the enemy forces.

Examples of usage

  • The government announced a new initiative to tackle unemployment.
  • This initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability.
Context #3 | Noun

business initiative

a new action or strategy to improve a company's performance or market position; a proactive approach to achieving business goals

Synonyms

endeavor, enterprise, undertaking, venture.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
initiative

Use when referring to the ability to act independently and take charge before others do. Often used to describe actions taken proactively.

  • She took the initiative to start the new project.
  • The company's latest initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions.
endeavor

Appropriate when highlighting a sustained effort towards achieving a difficult or important goal. Often used for personal or collective efforts.

  • This research endeavor could change human health forever.
  • He always puts great effort into every academic endeavor.
venture

Ideal for describing a risky or adventurous business or project. It often carries a sense of potential financial risk.

  • Their new venture into the tech market is risky but promising.
  • She decided to launch a new venture in renewable energy.
undertaking

Describes a task or project, often large or challenging, that one engages in. It can be used in both personal and professional contexts.

  • Building the new bridge was a massive undertaking.
  • His latest undertaking involves writing a comprehensive history book.
enterprise

Best used in a business context, referring to a company or business activity, especially one that is bold or complex.

  • Running a small business is a challenging enterprise.
  • The new tech enterprise aims to revolutionize online shopping.

Examples of usage

  • The company launched a marketing initiative to attract more customers.
  • Our team proposed an initiative to streamline the production process.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “initiative”

Initiative is a 3-syllable noun (ini-tia-tive). It is pronounced /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ in American English and /ɪnˈɪʃiətˌɪv/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 3 meanings, 12 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #3,899 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'initiative'

The word 'initiative' originated from the Latin word 'initiativus', meaning 'to begin'. It first appeared in the English language in the mid-17th century. The concept of taking initiative has been valued throughout history as a quality of leadership and proactivity. In modern usage, 'initiative' is associated with the ability to start things independently and drive positive change.

See also: initiable, initiating, initiatives, uninitiated.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,899, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.