initiativenoun
uk/ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.tɪv/us/ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.t̬ɪv/initiative noun (NEW PLAN)
C1 [ C ] a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem:
The peace initiative was welcomed by both sides.
More examples
- The German leadership lauded the Russian initiative.
- The UN called on all parties in the conflict to take a positive stance towards the new peace initiative.
- Joe Walker will be spearheading our new marketing initiative.
- The initiative has across-the-board support.
- He began his lecture by talking down the initiatives of a rival company.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Acting and acts
- (your) every move idiom
- -ation
- act/do sth on your own responsibility idiom
- action
- activity
- agency
- ant
- be up to sth idiom
- feel
- gambit
- get around to sth
- give yourself over/up to sth
- go about sth
- go about your business idiom
- go through with sth
- hand
- manoeuvre
- manoeuvring
- money
- up to
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initiative noun (JUDGMENT)
C1 [ U ] the ability to use your judgment to make decisions and do things without needing to be told what to do:
Although she was quite young, she showed a lot of initiative and was promoted to manager after a year.
I shouldn't always have to tell you what to do, use your initiative (= use your own judgment to decide what to do)!
on your own initiative
If you do something on your own initiative, you plan it and decide to do it yourself without anyone telling you what to do.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Intelligence
- acuity
- acumen
- agile
- apt
- artful
- as (if) to the manner born idiom
- brilliance
- gumption
- highbrow
- horse sense
- imaginative
- ingenious
- profound
- quick-witted
- razor-sharp
- ready
- resource
- resourceful
- resourcefulness
- scholarly
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initiative noun (ADVANTAGE)
the initiative C1 [ S ]
the power or opportunity to win an advantage:
to seize/take/lose the initiative
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Power to control
- ascendancy
- big beast
- buy-in
- chairmanship
- determination
- discipline
- dominant
- leadership
- lever
- manipulation
- mastery
- muscle
- oversight
- peer pressure
- sphere of influence
- spin control
- state-controlled
- states' rights
- supervision
- tooth
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