initially

adverb

ini·​tial·​ly i-ˈni-sh(ə-)lē How to pronounce initially (audio)
: at the beginning : at first
The reason I initially came here was to find work.
It turned out that the situation was not as serious as we had initially believed.
Initially, the symptoms are mild.

Examples of initially in a Sentence

we initially intended to rebuild our hurricane-damaged home from the ground up
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rivas will be booked into Dona Ana County Detention Center, a Las Cruces facility, where he will initially be held without bond, according to the LCPD. Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025 For instance, shifts in international alignments and trade agreements, though initially destabilizing, often create new market opportunities or strategic alliances. Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025 Officials initially believed the otters wouldn’t stray too far from the zoo, and might even return to their enclosure on their own. Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2025 Francis, 88, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14, initially suffering from a severe respiratory infection. Christopher Lamb, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for initially

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of initially was circa 1628

Cite this Entry

“Initially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/initially. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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