initially
ih-NIH-shuh-lee
Initially (adv) means At first, before anything changed. Example: “Initially, I thought the plan was a bad idea, but it worked out well.”
adv
1
At first, before anything changed.
"Initially, I thought the plan was a bad idea, but it worked out well."
"The app was initially free but now charges a subscription."
"The building was initially a school, and later it became a small hotel."
How to use initially
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAt the start of something, often used to set up a contrast with what happened later.
Common pairings
initially thought
initially planned
initially free
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like initially.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____, I thought the plan was a bad idea, but it worked out well.
Synonyms
View more →
at first
at the start
to begin with
originally
in the beginning
at the outset
first
firstly
ab initio
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for initially
See all rhymes for initially →Frequently asked questions
What does “initially” mean?
The word “initially” means at first, before anything changed. In plain terms, at the start of something, often used to set up a contrast with what happened later.
How do you pronounce “initially”?
“Initially” is pronounced ih-NIH-shuh-lee (/ɪˈnɪʃəli/ in IPA).
How do you use “initially” in a sentence?
Here is “initially” used in a sentence: “Initially, I thought the plan was a bad idea, but it worked out well.”
What is the opposite of “initially”?
The opposite of “initially” — its antonyms — are finally and medially.
What part of speech is “initially”?
“Initially” is an adverb.
Is “initially” a common word?
“Initially” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between initially and originally?
Both point to the beginning, but they differ in emphasis. Initially describes what happened first in a sequence, implying that things later changed. Originally stresses the source or the very first version of something. You might say a plan initially seemed simple, or that a house was originally built in 1900.
What is the opposite of initially?
The natural opposites are words that point to the end of a process rather than its start, such as eventually, finally, or ultimately. Initially sets up the first stage of a story; eventually describes where it ended up. For example, a task initially looked hard but eventually became routine.
What is an example of initially in a sentence?
Initially usually opens a sentence to signal a first state that later shifts. For example: 'Initially, she disliked the city, but after a year she loved it.' Or: 'The engine ran fine initially, then began to stutter.' It tells the reader a change is coming.
Is initially a formal word?
Initially is neutral and works in both formal and casual settings. It appears comfortably in academic writing, business reports, and everyday speech. In very relaxed conversation, people often prefer 'at first' or 'to begin with', which sound slightly warmer, but initially is never out of place and carries a clean, precise tone.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include initially:
