Initial - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT initial /ɪˈnɪʃəl/ /ɪˈnɪʃəl/ IPA guide

Other forms: initials; initialed; initialled; initialing; initialling

The first letter of your name is your initial. The first thing you say to someone is your initial greeting. Initial is something that occurs first or at the beginning.

If someone asks you to initial a form, they're asking you to sign by writing your initials on it. If your name is Inna Instant, you would write I.I., and you'd probably write it really quick! The first draft of a paper might be called your initial pass at getting your ideas down. If you say that these are your initial ideas, it implies that you will be coming up with more.

Definitions of initial

adjective occurring at the beginning “took the initial step toward reconciliation” synonyms: first preceding all others in time or space or degree
noun the first letter of a word (especially a person's name) “he refused to put the initials FRS after his name” see moresee less type of: alphabetic character, letter, letter of the alphabet the conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech
verb mark with one's initials see moresee less type of: sign be engaged by a written agreement

Pronunciation US /ɪˈnɪʃəl/ UK /ɪˈnɪʃəl/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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