adj
initial
ih-NIHSH-uhl
adj
1
Happening at the very start; first.
"My initial reaction was disbelief."
"The initial results of the trial looked promising."
noun
1
The first letter of a name or word.
"She had her initials, J.M., engraved on the bracelet."
"Just sign your initials at the bottom of each page."
verb
1
To mark or sign something with your initials.
"Please initial each page of the contract to confirm you've read it."
How to Use Initial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFirst, or the first letter of something — and as a verb, to sign with just your initials rather than a full signature.
Common pairings
initial reaction
initial stage
initial each page
Word Forms
initialed past tense, initialled past tense, initials plural, initials singular
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My _____ reaction was disbelief.
Etymology
From Latin initialis, "of the beginning," from initium, "a start or entrance."