initiative
initiative — noun
1. a carefully planned set of actions designed to bring about a particular improvem
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
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
The school reading initiative encourages every child to borrow at least one library book per week.
Several local businesses joined the initiative to provide free coding workshops for teenagers.
A community-led initiative helped restore the old playground after the storm damaged its equipment.
文法句型
initiative + to-infinitive
launch/propose/join + initiative
用法筆記
Often used with verbs like launch, introduce, propose, or join. The subject is typically a government, institution, company, or organised group.
常見錯誤
2. the personal quality of being able to judge what needs to be done and to begin d
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
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
Jiwoo took the initiative to learn customer management software before her boss even mentioned it.
With a little initiative, anyone can find small ways to improve their daily work routine.
Taking initiative is often seen by managers as a sign of future leadership potential.
- 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
文法句型
show/display/demonstrate + initiative
use + possessive + initiative
take + the + initiative + to-infinitive
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
3. done because you personally chose to act, not because someone asked, ordered, or
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'
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.
Nellie revised the entire training manual on her own initiative because she saw it was out of date.
The team introduced a new filing system on their own initiative after the old one caused repeated delays.
- independently
adverb form that can replace the whole phrase in many contexts
- of one's own accord
more formal; adds a sense of free will
- under instruction
acting because someone told you to
- on orders
especially in military or hierarchical contexts
文法句型
on + possessive + own + initiative
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
4. the position of acting first in a competitive situation, which gives the acting
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
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
Analysts warned that delaying the update would cause the brand to lose the initiative to its rivals.
The commander knew that holding the initiative was essential to winning the campaign.
Our competitor gained the initiative by releasing their app a full month before our planned date.
- 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
- disadvantage
the general opposite of having any advantage at all
文法句型
take/seize/gain/lose/hold + the + initiative
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
initiative — adjective
1. relating to the earliest phase of a process or project; serving as the first ste
relating to the earliest phase of a process or project; serving as the first step that sets things in motion
The committee published an initiative report outlining the main goals of the new project.
initiative + report — formal technical usage
The initiative stages of the experiment involved setting up the equipment and calibrating the sensors.
Dr. Nakamura drafted an initiative proposal for the community health project.
The initiative phase of the project focused on gathering requirements from all departments.
- introductory
much more common; works in both attributive and predicative positions
- preliminary
suggests something done before the main activity
- initial
focuses on being first in a sequence
- concluding
relating to the end rather than the beginning
- final
last in a sequence
文法句型
initiative + noun (report, stage, step, phase, remarks)
用法筆記
This adjective is rare in everyday English. It is mostly found in formal, technical, or academic writing. It cannot be used predicatively (you cannot say 'The report was initiative') — it only appears before a noun.