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
Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Executives’ initial efforts aren’t promising.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Focus group participants were identified only by their first name and last initial.
—Halle Troadec, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2025
Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
The Ecuadorian interdisciplinary artist and fashion designer launched her label, Soak (aka her initials backward), in 2021.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for initial
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Adjective
The items collect dust, and the space is rarely revisited after the initial setup until the holidays come around.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Executives’ initial efforts aren’t promising.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
The fictitious fire department has the same initials as the legitimate Santa Monica Fire Department – near where the Shore Hotel is located, prosecutors said.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Focus group participants were identified only by their first name and last initial.
—Halle Troadec, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
The 17-point agreement initialed by the two leaders is the key to normalizing relations and formally ending conflict.
—Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
The Ecuadorian interdisciplinary artist and fashion designer launched her label, Soak (aka her initials backward), in 2021.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for initial
Cite this Entry
“Initial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/initial. Accessed 4 Nov. 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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