Definition of initial - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
languagefirst letter of a word or name
- Her initial is 'A'.
2.
typographyTECH. large decorated letter at chapter startTECH.
- The book had beautiful initials.
3.
phonologyTECH. onset of a syllable in phoneticsTECH.
- The initial in 'cat' is 'c'.
4.
startbeginning stage of a process
- The project's initial was fraught with challenges..
5.
biologyTECH. cell from which tissues developTECH.
- The initial divides to form new cells.
Adjective
1.
timechronologically first or at the beginning
- The initial phase of the project was challenging.
2.
first positionspatially first or placed at the start
- The initial letter of the word is capitalized.
Verb
signing approvalwrite your first letter or initials to show approval
- Please initial each page to confirm you agree.
Images of initial

large decorated letter at chapter start
Expressions with initial
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
first sum of money paid at the start of an agreement
An initial payment is required when you sign the rental contract.
first examination or review of something
The initial check of the document revealed several errors.
the first encounter between people or groups
The initial meeting between the two teams was tense.
money needed at the start to buy or begin something
The low initial cost of the car attracted many first-time buyers.
first amount of money paid at the start of an account or agreement
You need an initial deposit to open the savings account.
money or resources put into something at the start to begin it
The initial investment for the new store reached fifty thousand dollars.
first money paid at the start of a project or investment
The initial outlay for the new factory was higher than expected.
stress experienced at the beginning of a process or event
Initial stress is common when starting a new job.
public fundraising through first sale of newly created crypto tokens
The startup raised money through an initial coin offering in 2018.
early inquiry that gathers basic facts before a more detailed investigation
The initial investigation found no signs of forced entry.
first offering of a financial security to buyers
The bond’s price was set during the initial issue.
first introduction of a product to the market
The initial offering of the new phone was a success.
first sale of a company's stock to the public
The startup's initial public offering raised millions.
minimum money or collateral required upfront to open a leveraged trading position
The broker raised the initial margin during the period of high market volatility.
repetition of initial sounds in nearby words
The poem uses initial rhyme to create rhythm.
set of starting values describing a system at the beginning of analysis
To solve the equation, you must first specify an initial condition.
condition of a system, object, or situation at the very beginning
Scientists carefully recorded the initial state of the gas before heating it.
problem involving a differential equation with given initial conditions
He studied the initial value problem in his calculus class.
starting speed and direction of an object at the first moment observed
The physicist measured the initial velocity of the ball before it hit the ground.
Origin of initial
Latin, initium (beginning)
Terms with initial included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
events
initial occurrence of an event or experience
beginning
initial year of an experience or process
initial experience
never done or experienced before
initial stage
the first part or earliest stage of something
beginning time
indicating the initial moment or start of something
time
referring to the initial part of something
beginning
initial period of an innovation or project
position
initial position in a sequence or list
beginning
initial action in a series of events
time
starting at the initial point of a process
purchase
initial payment to reserve or purchase something
development
in the initial stages of development
position
initial occurrence in a series or sequence
books speeches
initial part of a book or speech
education
relating to the initial stages of education
first stage
used to describe the initial position or point
commerce
initial price set by a seller for an item
time
showing the initial impression before a change happens
learning
understand after some initial difficulty
time
at an initial stage
initial period
period occurring near the beginning of a specific duration
initial sighting
the first time someone or something is seen
sequence
the initial group or set of items
personal interaction
initial encounter or interaction between individuals
Examples of initial in a sentence
He carved his initial into the tree. The manuscript featured an elaborate initial at the start. Each chapter began with a colorful initial. In “play,” the initial is /p/. The syllable “street” has a complex initial. The initial of the campaign was promising.
During the initial of the trial, many issues were identified. Scientists studied the initial to understand tissue growth. The initial is crucial in the development of plant structures. The initial meeting set the tone for the project. Her initial reaction was one of surprise. Place the initial panel near the entrance. The initial chapter introduces the main characters. Initial the contract at the bottom of each section. Please initial the revised clause to indicate consent.
View all translations of initial
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:initiale, premier, ...
- German:Initial, anfänglich, ...
- Italian:iniziale, primo, ...
- Spanish:inicial, primero, ...
- Portuguese:inicial, primeiro, ...
- Chinese:首字母, 初始的, ...
- Japanese:イニシャル, 初期の, ...
- Arabic:حرف أول, أوَّلي, ...
- Hebrew:אוֹת רִאשׁוֹנָה, רִאשׁוֹנִי, ...
- Russian:инициал, начальный, ...
- Ukrainian:ініціал, початковий, ...
- Hindi:प्रथमाक्षर, प्रारंभिक, ...
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