initial
initial — adjective
1. happening first, or at the very start of a process, event, or period of time
happening first, or at the very start of a process, event, or period of time
The initial test results gave Ignacio hope that his treatment was working.
Her initial worry turned into relief when she heard the good news.
Our initial plan was to meet at the library, but the weather changed everything.
After the initial shock, the children began to feel safe again.
Kwame's initial idea did not work, so he tried a different approach.
- first
neutral and more common in everyday speech; 'first' can also appear after a verb
- original
emphasises the earliest form before changes were made
- preliminary
suggests steps taken before the main activity; slightly more formal
- inaugural
used for the very first event in a series, especially formal or ceremonial contexts
文法句型
initial + noun
用法筆記
Used only before a noun — you cannot say 'the meeting was initial'. For position after a verb, use 'first' or 'at first' instead.
常見錯誤
initial — noun
1. the single written letters that stand for a person's complete name, taken from t
the single written letters that stand for a person's complete name, taken from the beginning of each part of it — for example, 'J.K.' for a person named Joanna Kim
Astrid sewed her initials, A.L., onto the corner of her school bag.
The artist painted his initials in tiny golden letters on the frame.
Leo always signs his drawings with his initials at the bottom.
The officer asked Salma to write her initials next to each change in the report.
The initials on the old leather suitcase were E.M.F., from its first owner.
- monogram
initials that are artistically combined into a single design, often on clothing or accessories
文法句型
someone's initials
the initials + of + person
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'initials' because most people have both a first and a last name. Use a plural verb: 'My initials are A.L.'
常見錯誤
initial — verb
1. to put a set of your own initials onto a paper, contract, or official document a
to put a set of your own initials onto a paper, contract, or official document as a short way of showing you have read it or agree with what it says
Eitan initialed each page of the contract before the meeting started.
Both parties must initial the agreement before it becomes legally binding.
must initial + noun phrase (legal context)
The manager initialed the safety checklist to confirm everything was in order.
Each amendment was initialed by the witnesses sitting in the front row.
Dewi initialed the changes on the last page with a quick stroke of her pen.
- sign
more general; a full signature is longer and more formal than initials
- countersign
to sign a document that has already been signed by someone else, to confirm it
文法句型
initial + noun phrase (document/page/agreement)
be initialed by + person
用法筆記
In formal contexts the passive form is common: 'The document was initialed by both parties.' The object is always the document or page itself, not the name — you initial a contract, not your name on a contract.