Sample sentences for INITIATIVE

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Definition

the ability and tendency to determine what should be done and to start doing it without instruction

or:

to start something

The exact meaning of starting something depends upon the context. For example:

"She did it on her own initiative." — started it without anyone telling her to
"She seized the initiative." — started actions that force others to react to her rather than her having to react to them
"the peace initiative" — a plan or the start of actions to bring about something
"a ballot initiative" — a proposed law that is started by citizen petition rather than by the legislature (applicable in many jurisdictions such as California)

She is smart, dedicated and has initiative. I expect to see her promoted soon.

initiative = the ability and tendency to determine what should be done and to start doing it without instruction

I admire her initiative.
He did it on his own initiative. His boss didn't even know about it.

initiative = started a task without instruction

Once the advance was stalled, we lost the initiative.
The CEO introduced a new initiative to improve customer satisfaction.
The ballot initiative would limit real growth in state expenditures to growth in population.
For the second week in a row, I leave out Hilly's bathroom initiative.
Kathryn Stockett -- The Help

initiative = proposal or thing started

Coach'll probably congratulate you on your initiative!
Arthur Miller -- Death of a Salesman

initiative = determining what should be done and doing it without instruction

Soupy was excellent when set a task, but had no initiative and was unused to planning.
Larry McMurtry -- Lonesome Dove
I knew that I must find the train to Uelzen, but months of being told what to do had left me robbed of initiative.
Corrie ten Boom -- The Hiding Place
We the Coalition hereby grant the PCC express permission to fully implement their PC Initiative #1 as presented in full and attached below.
James Dashner -- The Kill Order
But the initiative had passed to the Israelis, and the tension was gone from it by now.
Chaim Potok -- The Chosen
He must seize the initiative, or at least try to seize it; he must keep Grace from reading his mind.
Margaret Atwood -- Alias Grace
She's taken the initiative for the evening, making reservations at a place in midtown, which Donald and Astrid have recommended.
Jhumpa Lahiri -- The Namesake
There were several attempts to snatch at them, but it was the mayor's wife who took the initiative.
Markus Zusak -- The Book Thief
Women, if one may put it this way, are reactive creatures, with little original initiative, careless to the point of being passive.
Thomas Mann -- The Magic Mountain
You see my initiative doesn't go beyond putting myself at your disposal."
Edith Wharton -- The House of Mirth
You think he wants me to take the initiative?
Ken Kesey -- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
I was aware of the demand for action, and, my old helplessness strong upon me, I was waiting for him to take the initiative.
Jack London -- Sea Wolf
It was Pauline, who had made the trip from Manchester to Boston on her own initiative.
James Bradley -- Flags of Our Fathers

Dictionary / pronunciation — Google^®Dictionary list — Onelook.com^®Wikipedia article - Citizen Initiative Wikipedia article - Initiative

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