initiative
[noun]
Synonyms:
- first step, advantage, first move, lead
- resourcefulness, ambition, drive, dynamism, enterprise, get-up-and-go (informal), leadership

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English Thesaurus: plan, plot/conspiracy, scheme, strategy, initiative, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

i‧ni‧tia‧tive S3 W2 AC /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ noun

1. DECISIONS [uncountable] the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do:
I wish my son would show more initiative.
Don’t keep asking me for advice. Use your initiative.
Lt. Carlos was not obeying orders. He acted on his own initiative (=he was not told what to do).

2. PLAN [countable] an important new plan or process to achieve a particular aim or to solve a particular problem:
a government initiative to help exporters
an education initiative
initiative for
a new initiative for peace in the Middle East

3. CONTROL the initiative if you have or take the initiative, you are in a position to control a situation and decide what to do next:
Why don’t you take the initiative and ask him out?
Politicians need to seize the initiative from the terrorists.
The government must not lose the initiative in the fight against terrorism.

4. LAW [countable] law a process by which ordinary citizens can officially suggest a change in the law by signing a petition

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

initiative
noun
I. new plan
ADJ. fresh, new fresh initiatives to find a peaceful end to the conflict
pioneering pioneering initiatives in bioengineering
current, latest, recent | important, major | welcome | successful | practical | exciting | private | co-operative, joint | international, local, national, regional | government | business, diplomatic, economic, education/educational, environmental, marketing, peace, policy, political, research, training
QUANT. range, series
VERB + INITIATIVE undertake The research initiative is being undertaken by a group of environmentalists.
plan | develop | announce | introduce, launch, set up, start The government has launched a new policy initiative.
be/become involved in Ten schools have been involved in the initiative.
lead | approve | reject The peace initiative was rejected out of hand.
sponsor a peace initiative sponsored by the Organization of African Unity
endorse, support The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger.
welcome We welcome the government's initiative to help the homeless.
praise | encourage
INITIATIVE + VERB be aimed at sth, be designed to a local initiative aimed at economic regeneration an initiative designed to promote collaborative research
involve sth, relate to sth | founder The initiative foundered because there was no market interest in redevelopment.
PREP. ~ against a new initiative against car theft
~ by the latest initiative by the UN Secretary General
~ for an initiative for peace and human rights
~ on the government's major new initiative on crime
 ⇒ Special page at BUSINESS

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

initiative
II. ability to decide/act independently
ADJ. considerable, great, real | individual, personal, private It is a very hierarchical company and there's little place for individual initiative.
entrepreneurial
VERB + INITIATIVE have He had the initiative to ask what time the last train left.
display, show | act/work on your own, use He acted on his own initiative and wasn't following orders. Don't ask me what you should do all the time. Use your initiative!
lack | encourage, promote | stifle Raising taxes on small businesses will stifle initiative.
PREP. on sb's ~ The project was set up on the initiative of a local landowner.
~ in Some scientists show little initiative in applying their knowledge.
PHRASES a lack of initiative, on your own initiative In an unprecedented action, the army, on its own initiative, arrested seven civilians.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

initiative
III. the initiative: opportunity to gain an advantage
VERB + INITIATIVE have, hold After their latest setback, the rebel forces no longer hold the initiative.
gain, seize, take | regain In the second half, Manchester United regained the initiative.
lose
INITIATIVE + VERB comes from sb/sth, lie with sb The initiative to re-open negotiations came from Moscow.
PREP. ~ in She took the initiative in asking the board to conduct an enquiry.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

plan a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detail:
Leaders outlined a plan to end the fighting.
plot/conspiracy a secret plan to do something bad or illegal, made by a group of people:
There was a plot to assassinate the President.
a terrorist conspiracy
scheme British English an official plan that is intended to help people:
The government has introduced a new scheme to help young people find work.
strategy a carefully designed plan which is intended to achieve a particular purpose over a long period of time:
the company’s business strategy
The government’s economic strategy has been criticized by many experts.
We need to develop effective strategies for combating the sale of counterfeit goods.
initiative a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular aim:
a peace initiative
a major new initiative to tackle street crime
policy a plan that members of a government, political party, company etc agree on, that states how they intend to deal with a particular subject or problem:
the government’s immigration policy
It’s company policy to allow people to work from home.
programme British English, program American English a series of activities that a government or organization organizes, which aims to achieve something important and will continue for a long time:
a five-year programme which will create 2000 new jobs
federal programs for low-income housing

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲