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initiative
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
initiative
noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a bold initiative
▪ Investors have become used to the company’s bold initiatives.
a diplomatic initiative (=plan or process)
▪ Havana launched a diplomatic initiative to establish its own ties with Latin American governments.
a policy initiative (=something done to achieve a policy's goals)
▪ The policy initiatives have focused on the inner cities.
Initiatives of Change
regain the initiative (=get back into a position in which you are controlling a situation)
▪ In the months that followed, the government gradually regained the initiative.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
individual
▪ The research will involve a national survey of community credit unions and detailed case studies of individual initiatives.
▪ Even in situations of hardship, government action is undesirable because it can undermine individual initiative and independence.
▪ Any individual initiative against them is doomed from the start.
▪ His firm had long claimed to hold the qualities of individual initiative and independent thinking in highest esteem.
▪ Palatine have traditionally left this side of the business to the licensee's individual initiative.
▪ Serfdom stifled both collective and individual initiative among the peasantry.
▪ Nor was there much room for individual initiative.
▪ Equally, the extension of the traditional practice of periodic redistribution of the land between households continued to militate against individual initiative.
joint
▪ Further bilateral and multilateral agreements were also envisaged to ensure that each country's armed forces participated in joint anti-drug initiatives.
▪ It began as a joint initiative between purchaser and provider with 15 users of mental health services and their carers.
▪ Members of the council agreed to set up a joint initiative involving all public agencies.
▪ There must be other joint initiatives with publishers as well as with the media and the telecommunications industries which also might prove mutually beneficial.
▪ Defence-a joint initiative with Britain-is a high priority, as is food safety.
▪ That event, presented by Doyle, led to several joint production initiatives.
local
▪ There were local initiatives coming through on planning for Friern.
▪ From the federal perspective, generally acceptable activities were being planned and carried out, largely on local initiative.
▪ Other lines showed more solidarity and local initiative.
▪ Bennett and others promote cultural renewal through public sermonizing and support for local initiatives like church programs to teach parental responsibility.
▪ The evidence for market-control shows how such a system responded to and impinged on new forms of local power and local initiative.
▪ To be successful, federal policies had to be matched by local government initiatives.
▪ This report will recommend on any new local initiatives which could add to existing efforts in reducing drink related road accidents.
▪ This reliance on local initiative and talent has also accelerated the involvement of small entrepreneurs.
major
▪ This looks after the day-to-day running of the Campaign, leaving the executive to consider major policy initiatives.
▪ If the council wanted a major new initiative, it would appropriate additional money.
▪ Even if used sensibly, capital-budgeting procedures will tend to discourage major initiatives and indicate strategies aimed at short-term returns.
▪ Our major initiatives were still ahead of us, up there in our future, our soon-to-be past.
▪ The new products are part of a major SunConnect initiative to address the growing demand for tightly interconnected LANs and WANs.
▪ There are four major initiatives a Government can undertake.
new
▪ But the process has also been a more subtle one, as new initiatives have apparently been tacked on to existing local government.
▪ Our voluntary, nonprofit organizations are alive with new initiatives.
▪ Propose new disarmament initiatives covering all categories of conventional and nuclear weapons.
▪ Has he any new initiatives in the pipeline for energy efficiency in the business sector?
▪ Despite new initiatives like Operation Gemini ... thefts from cars are still rising.
▪ Johnson Brothers will be repositioned in 1993 as one of several important new marketing initiatives.
▪ That perception only added to the urgency with which he threw himself into new international initiatives.
▪ This is an example of government efforts to foster new initiatives by creating an agency outside of direct central political control.
other
▪ Other initiatives A number of other centrally instigated initiatives are under way or under consideration.
▪ Our city challenge and other inner-city initiatives were enthusiastically received by local authorities and the private sector - particularly in the north-east.
▪ Our other private sector initiative involves flats over shops.
▪ Mr Sherwood said other co-operative initiatives were in the pipeline.
▪ How does Compact fit in with other Government initiatives to benefit the inner cities?
▪ Defence spending is also a target, to release funding for other proposed initiatives.
▪ Oliver Lange looks at residencies, sponsorship and other initiatives and shows how useful these can be for artists.
▪ This may well be used in other initiatives.
political
▪ There is speculation about new political initiatives, each one a triumph of hope over 20 years' experience.
▪ At a personal level, their relationship reflected their implicit agreement that the political initiative should rest with Paris rather than Bonn.
▪ I have already mentioned the failure of the paramilitaries to create and sustain a political initiative.
▪ And it has moved to the political theater with initiative campaigns such as those in behalf of Propositions 187 and 209.
▪ I doubt whether lasting improvement is likely from political or bureaucratic initiative.
▪ Without a political initiative, however, it was hard to see how economic progress could be made.
▪ This unanimity encouraged local leaders to abstain from political initiatives and to concentrate on local and day-to-day issues.
▪ To provide jobs she started a small jam factory and she sponsored left-wing republican political initiatives.
private
▪ He has taken the Conservatives' private finance initiative and given it a more publicly accountable edge.
▪ John Wesley Powell, a midwesterner, knew that all the private initiative in the world would never make it bloom.
▪ There was no shift away from these private voluntary initiatives.
▪ The development was originally envisaged as a private enterprise initiative.
▪ We have two private sector initiatives.
▪ The private finance initiative has not papered over the cracks, although it has lined plenty of pockets.
▪ Our other private sector initiative involves flats over shops.
▪ Bickerman argued that in antiquity big enterprises of translation were due to public, not private, initiative.
recent
▪ Infolink's ability to respond quickly to the needs of a particular industry sector is demonstrated by a number of recent initiatives.
▪ We conclude with a brief discussion of the interaction of some recent participatory initiatives with the local representative system of democracy.
▪ Despite recent government initiatives most preregistration house officers still work over 72 hours a week.
▪ In the child care field, however, there have been recent initiatives which have improved the situation.
■ NOUN
ballot
▪ Numerous studies of the results of ballot initiatives demonstrate the obvious: Money is a big factor in their outcome.
▪ This year, citizens in 20 states will vote on 89 ballot initiatives on issues from property taxes to gambling to education.
▪ Another major challenge could come next year should voters approve a statewide ballot initiative aimed at abolishing mobile-home rent control.
▪ The ballot initiative qualified after the City Council approved the project last summer.
▪ Over the years, the ballot initiative has brought California some of its most dramatic change.
▪ This California legislative history explains why patients resorted to a statewide ballot initiative.
▪ On Wednesday, both sides of the hotly contested ballot initiative moved their battle into the courts.
▪ In the 1994 statewide elections, voters decided nearly 150 ballot initiatives.
peace
▪ With Vance, he was to co-chair the UN-EC peace initiative.
▪ Britain and Ireland announce a new peace initiative that would separate political talks from the disarmament issue.
▪ Resolution 242 became the corner-stone of almost every peace initiative that followed.
▪ Local peace initiative activities were themselves the targets of violence attacks.
▪ As the months went by and peace initiatives came and went, the situation on the border became increasingly tense.
policy
▪ This looks after the day-to-day running of the Campaign, leaving the executive to consider major policy initiatives.
▪ Second, most legislatures react to policy initiatives from the executive more than they create policy.
▪ Various policy initiatives have addressed the question of how to reverse the decay, deprivation and industrial degeneration of a century.
▪ But he offered no bold policy initiative.
▪ Another task is to initiate research of particular relevance to policy issues and to examine existing and proposal policy initiatives on employment.
▪ A communications and technology policy initiative to engage the civil rights community in debates over emerging communications and technology policy.
▪ These outcomes were the result of new policy initiatives and practice methods in child care.
▪ White House officials denied the president was worried that his foreign policy initiatives might turn sour before Nov. 5.
■ VERB
act
▪ The confused evidence suggests they are acting on their own initiative, not on directives from East Berlin to play for time.
▪ If the Legislature failed to act, the initiative process would proceed.
▪ The ancestors rarely act on their own initiative: generally these avenging angels of justice are invoked by the local elder.
▪ The government denied involvement in Toro's activities but few observers believed that he had been acting on his own initiative.
▪ The devil has something to be said for him: he acts on his own initiative and isn't just following orders.
▪ They would have to act on their own initiative and consult with those ministers who were in London itself.
announce
▪ Mr Lamont announced five specific initiatives designed to help those out of work re-enter the jobs market, particularly the long-term unemployed.
▪ Clinton also announced several modest crime-fighting initiatives.
▪ After laying the groundwork, he announced this initiative in a broadcast address from the Elysée Palace on 16 September 1959.
▪ Every time he announced a bold initiative, a hundred obstacles were thrown in his way.
▪ Clinton announced the deadbeat parents initiative here to highlight the differing approaches of his administration and Congress.
▪ Britain and Ireland announce a new peace initiative that would separate political talks from the disarmament issue.
develop
▪ We now propose to develop this initiative further.
▪ To survive, they must develop initiative and realize that their only recourse lies in intelligent planning and acting.
▪ Within its terms local actors are able to develop independent initiatives, such as, for example, those involving health care for women.
▪ Already, a number of local chambers have developed business-led initiatives similar to those in Tulsa and Austin.
▪ Each member of the team will learn to contribute, develop initiative and gain a sense of responsibility.
▪ Changes in teaching and research methods have resulted in the Arts developing new initiatives in the area of information technology.
▪ It has coordinated selected work already under way and proceeds to develop new research initiatives and channel resources to them.
▪ He developed no spectacular initiatives of his own.
encourage
▪ Many bands now take responsibility for advertising their gigs, and these posters encourage these self-help initiatives.
▪ Parents' attitude plays a large role in encouraging initiative.
▪ He encourages initiative, new ideas.
▪ I let him lead, to encourage his initiative and sense of discovery.
▪ In such a framework, individuals were often encouraged to take substantial initiatives and carry subordinates with them.
help
▪ Mr Lamont announced five specific initiatives designed to help those out of work re-enter the jobs market, particularly the long-term unemployed.
▪ Despite that, he believes the initiative will succeed in helping working poor families.
▪ Do the Government intend to introduce initiatives to help that area which is, of course, part of the northern region?
launch
▪ Working partnerships forged at home have provided a good springboard for launching several initiatives with partners abroad.
▪ So in 1990, School &038; Main launched an ambitious initiative to improve college retention rates for young people called Higher Ground.
▪ Instead, as part of our Millennium programme, we will launch a London 2000 initiative.
▪ We will launch a London 2000 initiative.
▪ Read in studio Police have launched a new initiative to tackle a rising wave of crime.
▪ The programme comes on the day police launched a new initiative to prevent such large gatherings taking place.
seize
▪ Then he seized the initiative in a dramatic fashion, just as he had in April 1182.
▪ This enabled Philip to seize the initiative again.
▪ Everyone in the organization can therefore seek out and seize initiatives to improve their contribution to profit.
▪ The trap of performing types is to display their efficiency by constantly seizing the initiative.
▪ Instead of standing there helplessly until the end of the performance, seize the initiative and act quickly.
▪ Obliged to seize the initiative, he announced in 1920 his first campaign of mass non-co-operation.
▪ Fortunately the Governor seized the initiative and the same day called on Nu to take over as prime Minister.
support
▪ I am keen to support any initiatives aimed at discussing ways of encouraging the economic regeneration of the area.
▪ The Republican Party has donated $ 350, 000 in cash and support for the initiative.
▪ The School Board is writing to support this initiative, and it would be most helpful if you could do likewise.
▪ Pete Wilson supports the initiative, while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Brown has staked her election hopes on vehement opposition.
▪ I hope you will join me in supporting this initiative.
▪ The state and national farm bureaus supported his initiative, and at a meeting with Sen.
▪ The Council therefore agreed to support an initiative in this area and the research commenced early in 1981.
▪ While Teng said she preferred taking her more gradual approach to extending voting rights, she said she supported the initiative.
take
▪ It is rare for any big business to take initiatives like that on its own.
▪ Even in these liberated times, men are still more likely to make the dates and take the initiative.
▪ They take the initiative, come up with technological and organizational innovations, devise new solutions to old problems.
▪ And both boys and girls with involved fathers demonstrate a greater ability to take initiative and direct themselves.
▪ Capable of taking and using initiative.
▪ Un thinking, I took an initiative.
▪ Nearly all transfers have taken place on the initiative either of prospective landlords or of mainly Conservative local authorities.
▪ They had taken the initiative, with their offense moving almost at will and defense providing its finest performance of the season.
welcome
▪ We should welcome the initiative of the Advisory Board for the Research Council in looking at quantitative measures of research output.
▪ Most rank-and-file members are more than ready to welcome clearly articulated initiatives that promise to advance their long-term interests.
▪ They welcomed last month's initiative by Mr Bush and called for a summit with him within 90 days.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
seize a chance/an opportunity/the initiative
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Initiative

Initiative \In*i"ti*a*tive\, a. [Cf. F. initiatif.] Serving to initiate; inceptive; initiatory; introductory; preliminary.

Initiative

Initiative \In*i"ti*a*tive\, n. [Cf. F. initiative.]

  1. An introductory step or movement; an act which originates or begins.

    The undeveloped initiatives of good things to come.
    --I. Taylor.

  2. The right or power to introduce a new measure or course of action, as in legislation; as, the initiative in respect to revenue bills is in the House of Representatives.

  3. (Political Science) The right or procedure by which legislation may be introduced or enacted directly by the people, as in the Swiss Confederation and in many of the States of the United States; -- chiefly used with the. The procedure of the initiative is essentially as follows: Upon the filing of a petition signed by a required number or percentage of qualified voters the desired measure must be submitted to a popular vote, and upon receiving the required majority (commonly a majority of those voting on the measure submitted) it becomes a law. In some States of the United States the initiative is only local; in others it is state-wide and includes the making of constitutional amendments.

  4. a character trait manifested in a readiness and ability to initiate action; an enterprising spirit; a go-getting attitude; energy; drive; get-up-and-go.

  5. in interactive activities, such as conversation or games, the right or opportunity to set the course of action; as, to have the initiative.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
initiative

1793, "that which begins," also "power of initiating," from French initiative (1560s), from Latin initiatus (see initiation). First attested in English in writings of William Godwin. Phrase take the initiative recorded by 1844.

Wiktionary
initiative

a. 1 Serving to initiate; inceptive; initiatory; introductory; preliminary. 2 In which voter #Nouns can be brought to the ballot. n. 1 A beginning; a first move. 2 A new development; a fresh approach to something; a new way of dealing with a problem. 3 The ability to act first or on one's own. 4 An issue to be voted on, brought to the ballot by a sufficient number of signatures from among the voting public.

Related phrases:
WordNet
initiative

  1. adj. serving to set in motion; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage" [syn: inaugural, initiatory, first, maiden]

  2. n. readiness to embark on bold new ventures [syn: enterprise, enterprisingness, go-ahead]

  3. the first of a series of actions; "he memorized all the important chess openings" [syn: first step, opening move, opening]

Related phrases:
Wikipedia
Initiative

In political science, an initiative (also known as a popular or citizens' initiative) is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote ( plebiscite).

The initiative may take the form of a direct initiative or an indirect initiative. In a direct initiative, a measure is put directly to a vote after being submitted by a petition. In an indirect initiative, a measure is first referred to the legislature, and then put to a popular vote only if not enacted by the legislature.

The vote may be on a proposed statute, constitutional amendment, charter amendment or local ordinance, or to simply oblige the executive or legislature to consider the subject by submitting it to the order of the day. It is a form of direct democracy.

Initiative (disambiguation)

Initiative is a process by which a referendum can be triggered by a petition of voters

Initiative or The Initiative may also refer to:

  • In personal behavior, initiative is the ability and tendency to initiate: to start an action, including coming up with a proposal and giving or helping without first being requested to do so.
  • Initiative (enterprise), a project of a new business venture. Executives frequently use the term initiative rather than project or programme / program.
  • In military operations, "taking the initiative" means generating a series of threats to which the opponent must respond.
Initiative (role-playing games)

In most role-playing games and table-top wargames an initiative system determines in which order player characters and non-player characters take their actions, to avoid confusion on when a character gets to act. Methods of doing this vary from game to game.

Initiative (chess)

Initiative in a chess position belongs to the player who can make threats that cannot be ignored. He thus puts his opponent in the position of having to use his turns responding to threats rather than making his own. A player with the initiative will often seek to maneuver his pieces into more and more advantageous position as he launches successive attacks. The player who lacks the initiative may seek to regain it through counterattack.

Initiative (enterprise)

An initiative represents an enterprise's readiness to embark on a new venture. Generally speaking, the motivation for an initiative arises from a desire to accomplish something that would benefit the enterprise, such as improving productivity, reducing costs or increasing market share.

A typical initiative is expressed as a process and includes metrics and time frames. It may be a formal, named project, a pilot project, or an informal executive directive. In any event, an initiative serves as a focal point for attracting the resources needed to accomplish a cherished goal.

Economic incentive often plays a strong role in establishing and following through energetically to complete an initiative. A strong economic reason for accomplishing the goal can enhance its chance to succeed.

Usage examples of "initiative".

It took the murder of my son and an extraordinary rallying effort to make people fight back against the thinking machines, after so many centuries of apathy and lack of initiative.

The United States is the peace police, but only in the final instance, when the supranational organizations of peace call for an organizational activity and an articulated complex of juridical and organizational initiatives.

Completely at peace widi a world in the midst of war, die biped ambled direcdy toward a small cluster of guards, bringing die need for initiative nearer and nearer, making diem sweat widi anxiety and creating such a panic diat diey forgot to itch.

Stuart Buffin undoubtedly witnessed was an Initiative Test, It is something that the Army has lately thought up to give employment to otherwise idle warriors.

Doubtless Old Conc was waiting for Xican initiative to assert itself in the realm of defensive fortification as well.

Only if the probability was very low that prospective tax cuts or new outlay initiatives would send the on-budget accounts into deficit, would unconditional initiatives appear prudent.

Colonel Charles Kades, an exemplary New Dealer who would play a pivotal role in such critical Government Section initiatives as the drafting of a new constitution, later spoke frankly of his own background in this regard.

Andre or Van Duyn could muster an answer, Springbuck seized the initiative.

Responding to such appeals, or acting on their own initiative, the State legislatures enacted measure after measure which entrenched upon the normal life of the community very drastically.

I would not for a moment be thought to say that those who are in favor of more democracy, through the initiative and referendum, are factionalists, and insincere in their view that that system will work a good result in the fight against corruption in politics.

I should have done was to attack the problem from the beginning and develop on my own initiative a fairly comprehensive theory of feedback mechanisms.

Bossk in there to talk with Fett, and have him propose exactly that, then my son would very likely have done it on his own initiative.

As Jim rode, his opponent broke into a canter, and a moment later Gorp followed suit on his own initiative.

His type of humaniform robot used initiative in many important ways, however, not just to determine large-scale courses of action.

Free Integrationists, and the latest in a string of antitax initiatives went down in the law books of Triton.