initiative noun
1 new plan
ADJ. fresh, new fresh initiatives to find a peaceful end to the conflict | pioneering pioneering initiatives in bioengineering | current, latest, recent | important, major | welcome | successful | practical | exciting | private | co-operative, joint | international, local, national, regional | government | business, diplomatic, economic, education/educational, environmental, marketing, peace, policy, political, research, training
QUANT. range, series
VERB + INITIATIVE undertake The research initiative is being undertaken by a group of environmentalists. | plan | develop | announce | introduce, launch, set up, start The government has launched a new policy initiative. | be/become involved in Ten schools have been involved in the initiative. | lead | approve | reject The peace initiative was rejected out of hand. | sponsor a peace initiative sponsored by the Organization of African Unity | endorse, support The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. | welcome We welcome the government's initiative to help the homeless. | praise | encourage
INITIATIVE + VERB be aimed at sth, be designed to a local initiative aimed at economic regeneration an initiative designed to promote collaborative research | involve sth, relate to sth | founder The initiative foundered because there was no market interest in redevelopment.
PREP. ~ against a new initiative against car theft | ~ by the latest initiative by the UN Secretary General | ~ for an initiative for peace and human rights | ~ on the government's major new initiative on crime > Special page at BUSINESS
2 ability to decide/act independently
ADJ. considerable, great, real | individual, personal, private It is a very hierarchical company and there's little place for individual initiative. | entrepreneurial
VERB + INITIATIVE have He had the initiative to ask what time the last train left. | display, show | act/work on your own, use He acted on his own initiative and wasn't following orders. Don't ask me what you should do all the time. Use your initiative! | lack | encourage, promote | stifle Raising taxes on small businesses will stifle initiative.
PREP. on sb's ~ The project was set up on the initiative of a local landowner. | ~ in Some scientists show little initiative in applying their knowledge.
PHRASES a lack of initiative, on your own initiative In an unprecedented action, the army, on its own initiative, arrested seven civilians.
3 the initiative: opportunity to gain an advantage
VERB + INITIATIVE have, hold After their latest setback, the rebel forces no longer hold the initiative. | gain, seize, take | regain In the second half, Manchester United regained the initiative. | lose
INITIATIVE + VERB comes from sb/sth, lie with sb The initiative to re-open negotiations came from Moscow.
PREP. ~ in She took the initiative in asking the board to conduct an enquiry.
You can also check other dicts: initiative (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition