ini·tial
i-ˈni-shəl 
1
: of or relating to the beginning : incipient
his initial reaction
2
: placed at the beginning : first
the initial word of the verse
initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling
i-ˈni-sh(ə-)liŋ
1
: to affix an initial to
2
: to authenticate or give preliminary approval to by affixing the initials of an authorizing representative
Examples of initial in a Sentence
Adjective
you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question
Noun
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's middle initial stood for “Delano.”
She put her initials on each page of the contract.
The initials F.D.R. stood for “Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”
Verb
She initialed each page of the contract.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 18 Mar. 2025
And despite initial reports to the contrary, there was no massive contract given to former Philadelphia defensive tackle Milton Williams, thought to be the No. 1 overall free-agency target by many.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 18 Mar. 2025
Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
The indictment refers to the victim by her initials.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2025
Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025
The serial numbers on those seals are written on a form that is then initialed by the chief inspector and a member of the Board of Absentee Canvassers.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for initial
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Adjective
Ted Lasso officially secured a Season 4 renewal at Apple TV+ earlier this month, after initial reports emerged last August that the Emmy-winning comedy was eyeing a return following Season 3’s conclusion in May 2023.
—Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 18 Mar. 2025
And despite initial reports to the contrary, there was no massive contract given to former Philadelphia defensive tackle Milton Williams, thought to be the No. 1 overall free-agency target by many.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
But the far less together young women at a much less glamorous house, Zeta Alpha Zeta (might those ZAZ initials be a subtle Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker tribute?), adopt her as their house mother.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
The indictment refers to the victim by her initials.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
One ballot was tossed out because it wasn’t initialed by an election judge, and Balich won the position via a lottery.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025
The serial numbers on those seals are written on a form that is then initialed by the chief inspector and a member of the Board of Absentee Canvassers.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for initial
Cite this Entry
“Initial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/initial. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
initial
1 of 3 adjective
ini·tial
in-ˈish-əl
1
: of, relating to, or existing at the beginning : earliest
initial stages of a disease
2
: placed or standing at the beginning : first
the initial letter of a word
initial
2 of 3 noun1
: a first letter of a name
2
: a large letter beginning a text or paragraph
initial
3 of 3 verb
initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling
-ˈish-(ə-)liŋ
: to mark with initials or an initial
initial a handkerchief
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