as in first
coming before all others in time or order
you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of initial
River Valley Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 16 Sep. 2024
Billingsley read aloud, and then initialed next to, sentences explaining his right to remain silent and his right to have an attorney present, among others.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2024
Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 15 July 2025
After the initial excitement of Panasonic’s announcement died down, Walker said he’s seen serious developers come forward with strong projects to support the community.
—Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for initial
Adjective
According to the report, Terry read and initialed the waiver of rights form but was unwilling to submit to the test.
—River Valley Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 16 Sep. 2024
Billingsley read aloud, and then initialed next to, sentences explaining his right to remain silent and his right to have an attorney present, among others.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2024
Verb
That's because the initial yield of NASA's Kepler space telescope, which discovered nearly 3,000 planets in its nine years of operation, relied on worlds transiting — passing between their star and Earth.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 15 July 2025
After the initial excitement of Panasonic’s announcement died down, Walker said he’s seen serious developers come forward with strong projects to support the community.
—Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for initial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initial
Adjective
-
This is the first time the river has been opened to swimmers since 1923, Reuters reported.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
-
Estévez, 32, has shined in his first season with the Royals.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The current lineup of Jay & The Americans has one original member, 82-year-old harmony vocalist Sandy Deane Yaguda.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 July 2025
-
For example, at the start of this week, my favorite cheap laptop, the Vivobook 14 (Snapdragon X) was on sale for just $550—that's $200 off the original price and $100 off the previous lowest price.—
Luke Larsen,
Wired News,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
The banner’s inaugural project, Magic City: An American Fantasy, will debut on Starz.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
9 July 2025
-
Technology, sustainability and the power of human connection were at the center of a lively debate on the future of travel at Newsweek's inaugural New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit last week.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
This is because the clerics who have issued or endorsed the threats belong to an ultra-hard-line camp inherently against any diplomatic engagements with the U.S. or the West.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
-
Churches are now able to endorse political candidates after a court filing against a decades-long rule.—
Joyce Orlando,
The Tennessean,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Perhaps a rough night at rehearsals for the chronically employable actor, or, more likely, with them out of school, a long morning with the kids — five in total, three of whom are with Eberstein, two of whom were authored by Grant and his ex-partner, Tinglan Hong?—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
During the 2025 legislative session, Bettencourt authored Senate Bill 1365, which would have given the TEA authority to appoint state oversight over districts that sue the state over academic accountability.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
The meet features 64 stakes races, including 18 Grade 1s, and is packed with deep maiden special weights, competitive allowance races, and hard-to-predict turf contests.—
Jared Welch,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
The 33-year-old, who has had an impressive season in her maiden National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) campaign — a move we have been told was encouraged by Bonadei himself — was an important member of the leadership group.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
On Monday, Trump signed an executive order delaying the tariff deadline until Aug. 1.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
-
President Grover Cleveland signed a congressional act to make Labor Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1894.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
First launched in 1985, FIBO has become one of the earth’s foremost fitness and wellness-focused trade shows, with roughly 130,000 participants set to convene in Cologne, Germany in April 2026.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Ziegler, one of the world’s foremost experts on the history and law of reproductive rights in the U.S., draws on decades of scholarship.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Initial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initial. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share