Initiative
noun
The ability to identify tasks that need to be accomplished and make a decision to go ahead with them without being told by others.
She showed great initiative when she started the new project on her own.
Often appears as...
- show initiative
- take the initiative
noun
A new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem.
The government's new initiative to reduce plastic waste has been welcomed by environmentalists.
Often appears as...
- government initiative
- new initiative
noun
The right or ability to introduce new laws or changes in a political context.
Voters will decide the outcome of the tax initiative in November.
Often appears as...
- tax initiative
- voter initiative
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The ability to identify tasks that need to be accomplished and make a decision to go ahead with them without being told by others.
She showed great initiative when she started the new project on her own.
Often appears as...
- show initiative
- take the initiative
noun
A new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem.
The government's new initiative to reduce plastic waste has been welcomed by environmentalists.
Often appears as...
- government initiative
- new initiative
noun
The right or ability to introduce new laws or changes in a political context.
Voters will decide the outcome of the tax initiative in November.
Often appears as...
- tax initiative
- voter initiative
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Self-starting Quality
Describes someone who begins work or tasks without prompting.
He takes initiative by volunteering for assignments before anyone asks.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Trait
Often seen as a leadership quality and highly valued by employers.
Her initiative in streamlining the process impressed her superiors.
Pro Tip 3/3Autonomous Action
Acting on one's own volition without waiting for direction.
Taking initiative, he resolved the customer's complaint immediately.
Pro Tip 1/3Self-starting Quality
Describes someone who begins work or tasks without prompting.
He takes initiative by volunteering for assignments before anyone asks.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Trait
Often seen as a leadership quality and highly valued by employers.
Her initiative in streamlining the process impressed her superiors.
Pro Tip 3/3Autonomous Action
Acting on one's own volition without waiting for direction.
Taking initiative, he resolved the customer's complaint immediately.
Pro Tip 1/3Self-starting Quality
Describes someone who begins work or tasks without prompting.
He takes initiative by volunteering for assignments before anyone asks.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Trait
Often seen as a leadership quality and highly valued by employers.
Her initiative in streamlining the process impressed her superiors.
Pro Tip 3/3Autonomous Action
Acting on one's own volition without waiting for direction.
Taking initiative, he resolved the customer's complaint immediately.
Compare with
creativitydriveenterpriseingenuityinventiveleadershiporiginalityresourceful
Never forget "Initiative"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Snow Leopards: Ghosts in...
get this collaboration with the snyder trust because they're protecting this environment which to me is amazing because in all conservation agreements and most conservation um initiatives there's always some kind of sacrifice but here there's no sacrifice whatsoever because these women who wouldn't typically be making their own income here now have
Video examples
Why is it so hard to...
Most societies throughout history employed some strategies to help people in poverty meet basic needs. Before the 20th century, religious groups and private charities often led such initiatives. Today, these are called welfare programs, and they usually take the form of government-provided subsidies
Video examples
The dark history of IQ...
There were many problems with this line of thinking, among them the idea that intelligence was not only fixed and inherited, but also linked to a person’s race. Under the influence of eugenics, scientists used the results of the military initiative to make erroneous claims that certain racial groups
Video examples
History through the eyes...
from breeding a given pairing. Since then, numerous breeding initiatives have made chickens bigger and meatier, and allowed them to lay more eggs than ever. Meanwhile, chicken production has shifted to an industrial, factory-like model, with birds raised in spaces with a footprint
Video examples
How does the stock...
As demand for those stocks increases, so does their price, increasing the cost for prospective buyers, and raising the value of the company's stocks people already own. For the company, this increased interest helps fund new initiatives, and also boosts its overall market value
Video examples
Taking care of the ocean...
film and you can go to the website and see mission blue and you know sign in we have more than a hundred partners around the world who are lending their voices and their power to help with this initiative to take care of the blue and that's what's the film is about it it's
Video examples
Alice Goffman: How we're...
some of you are here in the audience -- pumping big money into decarceration initiatives In a deeply divided Congress, the work of reforming our criminal justice system is just about the only thing that the right and the left are coming together on.
Video examples
How to escape...
Class sizes are smaller than in many countries. And there are hundreds of initiatives every year to try and improve education. The trouble is, it's all going in the wrong direction. There are three principles on which human life flourishes,
Video examples
Are Mites Having Sex on...
citizen science outreach initiative and so the me or mites project is an extension of your wildlife this project is really unique in the fact that we get to engage the participants personally so they get to learn about their mites
Video examples
TED-Ed Clubs:...
That's why TED's youth and education initiative, TED-Ed, has created a program that's dedicated to sparking and celebrating the best ideas of young people around the world.
Video examples
Snow Leopards: Ghosts in...
get this collaboration with the snyder trust because they're protecting this environment which to me is amazing because in all conservation agreements and most conservation um initiatives there's always some kind of sacrifice but here there's no sacrifice whatsoever because these women who wouldn't typically be making their own income here now have
Video examples
Why is it so hard to...
Most societies throughout history employed some strategies to help people in poverty meet basic needs. Before the 20th century, religious groups and private charities often led such initiatives. Today, these are called welfare programs, and they usually take the form of government-provided subsidies
Video examples
The dark history of IQ...
There were many problems with this line of thinking, among them the idea that intelligence was not only fixed and inherited, but also linked to a person’s race. Under the influence of eugenics, scientists used the results of the military initiative to make erroneous claims that certain racial groups
Video examples
History through the eyes...
from breeding a given pairing. Since then, numerous breeding initiatives have made chickens bigger and meatier, and allowed them to lay more eggs than ever. Meanwhile, chicken production has shifted to an industrial, factory-like model, with birds raised in spaces with a footprint
Video examples
How does the stock...
As demand for those stocks increases, so does their price, increasing the cost for prospective buyers, and raising the value of the company's stocks people already own. For the company, this increased interest helps fund new initiatives, and also boosts its overall market value
Video examples
Taking care of the ocean...
film and you can go to the website and see mission blue and you know sign in we have more than a hundred partners around the world who are lending their voices and their power to help with this initiative to take care of the blue and that's what's the film is about it it's
Video examples
Alice Goffman: How we're...
some of you are here in the audience -- pumping big money into decarceration initiatives In a deeply divided Congress, the work of reforming our criminal justice system is just about the only thing that the right and the left are coming together on.
Video examples
How to escape...
Class sizes are smaller than in many countries. And there are hundreds of initiatives every year to try and improve education. The trouble is, it's all going in the wrong direction. There are three principles on which human life flourishes,
Video examples
Are Mites Having Sex on...
citizen science outreach initiative and so the me or mites project is an extension of your wildlife this project is really unique in the fact that we get to engage the participants personally so they get to learn about their mites
Video examples
TED-Ed Clubs:...
That's why TED's youth and education initiative, TED-Ed, has created a program that's dedicated to sparking and celebrating the best ideas of young people around the world.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jameela Jamil
English Celebrity
So many people are campaigning, fighting, and even dying to make a statement in the name of humanity. These people have no voice that can be heard by many. I wish more celebrities would take the initiative to be that voice.
Quote examples
Stephen Covey
American Educator
There is a heavy emphasis in Mormonism on initiative, on responsibility, on a work ethic, and on education. If you take those elements together with a free-enterprise system, you've got the chemistry for a lot of industry.
Quote examples
Ivanka Trump
American Businesswoman
We launched our #WomenWhoWork initiative to show the world what today's modern, professional women really look like. They're invested in their careers, but they're also passionate about priorities outside the office.
Quote examples
Isabelle Adjani
French Actress
I'm a public figure. It's up to me to take the initiative to explain things. It's my responsibility.
Quote examples
Harry Browne
American Writer
The important thing is to concentrate upon what you can do - by yourself, upon your own initiative.
Quote examples
Jesse Jackson
American Activist
Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things.
Quote examples
Gale Norton
American Public Servant
Local innovation and initiative can help us better understand how to protect our environment.
Quote examples
William J. H. Boetcker
American Clergyman
You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
Quote examples
Dave Heineman
American Politician
Economic growth is the most important initiative every governor faces.
Quote examples
Emmanuel Macron
French Politician
Believe in individual initiatives, in courage, in risk.
Quote examples
Jameela Jamil
English Celebrity
So many people are campaigning, fighting, and even dying to make a statement in the name of humanity. These people have no voice that can be heard by many. I wish more celebrities would take the initiative to be that voice.
Quote examples
Stephen Covey
American Educator
There is a heavy emphasis in Mormonism on initiative, on responsibility, on a work ethic, and on education. If you take those elements together with a free-enterprise system, you've got the chemistry for a lot of industry.
Quote examples
Ivanka Trump
American Businesswoman
We launched our #WomenWhoWork initiative to show the world what today's modern, professional women really look like. They're invested in their careers, but they're also passionate about priorities outside the office.
Quote examples
Isabelle Adjani
French Actress
I'm a public figure. It's up to me to take the initiative to explain things. It's my responsibility.
Quote examples
Harry Browne
American Writer
The important thing is to concentrate upon what you can do - by yourself, upon your own initiative.
Quote examples
Jesse Jackson
American Activist
Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things.
Quote examples
Gale Norton
American Public Servant
Local innovation and initiative can help us better understand how to protect our environment.
Quote examples
William J. H. Boetcker
American Clergyman
You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
Quote examples
Dave Heineman
American Politician
Economic growth is the most important initiative every governor faces.
Quote examples
Emmanuel Macron
French Politician
Believe in individual initiatives, in courage, in risk.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension