initiative

initiative — noun

1. a carefully planned set of actions designed to bring about a particular improvem

1.nounB2
Definition

a carefully planned set of actions designed to bring about a particular improvement or to deal with a specific issue, usually launched by a group, organisation, or government

Example

The city government launched a new initiative to plant native trees in every public park.

launch + initiative + to-infinitive for purpose

Xiu's initiative to reduce single-use plastic in her office saved over a thousand cups in three months.

[person]'s initiative to [verb phrase] + result

Common collocations
  • launch an initiative
  • introduce an initiative
  • propose an initiative
  • support an initiative
  • a new initiative
  • a major initiative
  • a government initiative
  • a community initiative
  • a joint initiative
  • a peace initiative
Synonyms
  • scheme

    more common in British English; can suggest a less formal or slightly underhand plan

  • project

    more concrete, with defined deliverables and a clear end date

  • programme

    suggests a longer-running series of coordinated activities

  • plan

    the broadest term; covers any intended course of action

Grammar Patterns

initiative + to-infinitive

launch/propose/join + initiative

Usage Note

Often used with verbs like launch, introduce, propose, or join. The subject is typically a government, institution, company, or organised group.

Common Mistakes

The government introduced a technological initiative' (when referring to a new invention).
The government introduced a technological innovation.
'initiative' refers to a plan or process, not the product of invention itself.

2. the personal quality of being able to judge what needs to be done and to begin d

2.nounB2
Definition

the personal quality of being able to judge what needs to be done and to begin doing it without waiting for instructions or encouragement from others

Example

Roya showed remarkable initiative by reorganising the filing system when nobody else would.

show initiative + by [verb-ing]

The company looks for graduates who can use their initiative to solve problems without supervision.

use [possessive] initiative + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • show initiative
  • use your initiative
  • demonstrate initiative
  • display initiative
  • lack initiative
  • take the initiative
  • personal initiative
  • individual initiative
Synonyms
  • enterprise

    slightly more formal; often appears in the phrase 'spirit of enterprise'

  • resourcefulness

    emphasises clever problem-solving with limited means

  • self-reliance

    focuses on independence rather than first action

  • drive

    more informal; emphasises energy and determination

Antonyms
  • passivity

    waiting for others to act rather than acting oneself

  • apathy

    lack of interest or concern, the opposite of energetic initiative

Grammar Patterns

show/display/demonstrate + initiative

use + possessive + initiative

take + the + initiative + to-infinitive

Usage Note

In this sense, initiative is uncountable. You cannot say 'initiatives' or 'an initiative' when you mean personal drive. The phrase 'take the initiative' (with definite article) is a fixed collocation meaning to act first.

Common Mistakes

She shows great initiatives in her work.
She shows great initiative in her work.
When referring to personal ability, initiative is uncountable and takes no plural -s.
He took an initiative to fix the problem.
He took the initiative to fix the problem.
The fixed phrase uses the definite article 'the', not 'a'/'an'.

3. done because you personally chose to act, not because someone asked, ordered, or

3.nounB2
Definition

done because you personally chose to act, not because someone asked, ordered, or assigned you — used in the fixed phrase 'on one's own initiative'

Example

Henrik organised the charity bake sale on his own initiative, without any direction from the principal.

on [possessive] own initiative — independent action

The security guard called the fire department on his own initiative after noticing smoke near the basement.

Common collocations
  • on my own initiative
  • on his own initiative
  • on her own initiative
  • on their own initiative
  • on your own initiative
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

on + possessive + own + initiative

Usage Note

This sense always appears within the fixed phrase 'on one's own initiative'. The possessive pronoun (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) must match the subject. Distinguish from sense 2: 'showed initiative' describes a personal quality, while 'on his own initiative' describes the manner in which a specific action was carried out.

Common Mistakes

He did it on his initiative.
He did it on his own initiative.
The word 'own' is required in the fixed phrase.

4. the position of acting first in a competitive situation, which gives the acting

4.nounC1
Definition

the position of acting first in a competitive situation, which gives the acting person or side a better chance of succeeding than those who wait and respond later

Example

By launching ahead of schedule, the company seized the initiative in the electric car market.

seize the initiative — competitive context

The home team took the initiative early in the match and scored within the first five minutes.

take the initiative — sports context

Common collocations
  • take the initiative
  • seize the initiative
  • gain the initiative
  • lose the initiative
  • hold the initiative
  • wrest the initiative
  • keep the initiative
Synonyms
  • advantage

    broader term; the initiative is a specific type of advantage gained by acting first

  • upper hand

    informal; suggests dominance in a contest

  • lead

    focuses on being ahead rather than dictating the pace

Antonyms
  • disadvantage

    the general opposite of having any advantage at all

Grammar Patterns

take/seize/gain/lose/hold + the + initiative

Usage Note

Common in business strategy, sports commentary, and military discussion. The initiative in this sense belongs to whoever is dictating the direction of events rather than merely responding. Frequently takes the verbs take, seize, gain, lose, hold, or wrest.

Common Mistakes

Our team took an initiative in the second half.
Our team took the initiative in the second half.
The definite article 'the' is required; 'initiative' in this sense is not countable.

initiative — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a deliberate course of action, but each emphasises a different aspect. Initiative carries a sense of purposeful problem-solving — it is the plan you launch to improve a situation, and often implies institutional or community backing. A scheme (more common in British English) can be neutral but may also suggest a slightly underhand or unofficial arrangement. A project is more concrete: it has defined tasks, a fixed budget, and an end date. A programme (UK) or program (US) suggests a longer-term, larger-scale set of coordinated activities, such as a national literacy programme. Plan is the broadest term and can be anything from a mental intention to a detailed blueprint. For example, a local council's 'recycling initiative' sounds like a public campaign to change behaviour; a 'recycling scheme' might be a specific collection route; a 'recycling project' could be a one-year pilot; and a 'recycling plan' is simply the strategy document.

scheme ↗project ↗programme ↗plan ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • government initiative
  • community initiative
  • business initiative
  • peace initiative
  • recycling initiative
  • research initiative
  • marketing initiative

Phrases

  • take the initiative
  • seize the initiative
  • on one's own initiative
  • show initiative
  • use one's initiative
  • lose the initiative
  • gain the initiative
  • hold the initiative

Prepositions

  • on (one's own) initiative
  • initiative for
  • initiative in

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Initiative comes from the Latin word initiativus, meaning 'serving to begin', which in turn comes from initium ('beginning' or 'start'). The word entered English from French in the late 1700s, first appearing in legal and political contexts to describe the right to begin legislative action. By the 1800s it had broadened into its modern meanings: a plan that begins a process, and the personal quality of starting things without being told.