initiative
/ɪˈnɪʃətɪv
/noun
1 [mass noun] The ability to assess and initiate things independently: use your initiative, imagination, and common sense...
- Answering the 41 questions on this American ‘career advancement test’ is intended to determine your drive, initiative and ability to take on responsibility.
- The skills they need include creativity and initiative, the ability to make decisions and solve problems, and a knack for working with others.
- The interviewer is looking for your ability to show initiative, take responsibility and communicate.
Synonyms
enterprise, inventiveness, resourcefulness, capability;
imagination, imaginativeness, ingenuity, originality, creativity;
drive, dynamism, ambition, ambitiousness, motivation, spirit, verve, dash, energy, vitality, vigour, leadership, vision
informal get-up-and-go, zing, push, pep, zip, punch, pizzazz
2 [in singular] The power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do: anti-hunting groups have seized the initiative in the dispute...
- By not immediately pressing them in their retreat from the village, he lost both the initiative and an opportunity to finally curb the tribesmen and end the war.
- Lynx were ahead after 50 minutes but surrendered the initiative and despite laying siege to the Swinton try line in the closing stages they were unable to claim victory.
- Ireland had not played particularly well in that first half, had forced a dream start but quickly lost the initiative as they allowed their insecurities and nervousness to manifest itself into their play.
Synonyms
advantage, upper hand, edge, lead, whip hand, trump card;
first step, first move, first blow, opening move, opening gambit, gambit;
beginning, start, commencement
3An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation; a fresh approach to something: a new initiative against car crime...
- Residents in one tenement in Edinburgh's Polwarth area which is managed by the scheme said the initiative had helped resolve anxieties about major structural work.
- The strategic initiative will include a two-stage approach to move to the full globalization of the market for top-level domains.
- The policy initiative includes measures to improve the investment climate in the country and the launching of a new investment law.
Synonyms
plan, scheme, strategy, stratagem, measure, technique, proposal, step, action, act, manoeuvre, gambit;
approach, tack, tactic;
French démarche
3.1A proposal made by one nation to another in an attempt to improve relations: a Middle East peace initiative...
- The US has a history of proposing peace initiatives without real sincerity as a political tactic.
- He added that he was a hopeful a new peace initiative to improve relations with Pakistan and India would succeed.
- Saudi Arabia has introduced a peace initiative on behalf of the Palestinians that has been embraced by most of the Arab states.
4 (the initiative) (Especially in Switzerland and some US states) the right of citizens outside the legislature to originate legislation.Every state constitution has been amended far more often by the legislature than by initiative....
- Within the fields of Community competence, its right of legislative initiative resembles that of a government, and even exceeds it in so far as the Commission's is a sole right.
- Any statewide initiative implementation that includes the above elements will be a usable citizen initiative process.
Phrases
on one's own initiative
Origin
Late 18th century: from French, from Latin initiare, from initium 'beginning'.