i ‧ ni ‧ tia ‧ tive S3 W2 AC /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ BrE AmE noun
1 . DECISIONS [uncountable] the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do:
I wish my son would show more initiative.
Don’t keep asking me for advice. Use your initiative.
Lt. Carlos was not obeying orders. He acted on his own initiative (=he was not told what to do) .
2 . PLAN [countable] an important new plan or process to achieve a particular aim or to solve a particular problem:
a government initiative to help exporters
an education initiative
initiative for
a new initiative for peace in the Middle East
3 . CONTROL the initiative if you have or take the initiative, you are in a position to control a situation and decide what to do next:
Why don’t you take the initiative and ask him out?
Politicians need to seize the initiative from the terrorists.
The government must not lose the initiative in the fight against terrorism.
4 . LAW [countable] law a process by which ordinary citizens can officially suggest a change in the law by signing a ↑ petition
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ plan a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detail:
Leaders outlined a plan to end the fighting.
▪ plot/conspiracy a secret plan to do something bad or illegal, made by a group of people:
There was a plot to assassinate the President.
|
a terrorist conspiracy
▪ scheme British English an official plan that is intended to help people:
The government has introduced a new scheme to help young people find work.
▪ strategy a carefully designed plan which is intended to achieve a particular purpose over a long period of time:
the company’s business strategy
|
The government’s economic strategy has been criticized by many experts.
|
We need to develop effective strategies for combating the sale of counterfeit goods.
▪ initiative a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular aim:
a peace initiative
|
a major new initiative to tackle street crime
▪ policy a plan that members of a government, political party, company etc agree on, that states how they intend to deal with a particular subject or problem:
the government’s immigration policy
|
It’s company policy to allow people to work from home.
▪ programme British English , program American English a series of activities that a government or organization organizes, which aims to achieve something important and will continue for a long time:
a five-year programme which will create 2000 new jobs
|
federal programs for low-income housing