noun
1 new plan
ADJECTIVE
▪ fresh , new
▪
fresh ~s to find a peaceful end to the conflict
▪ innovative , pioneering
▪
pioneering ~s in bioengineering
▪ current , latest , recent
▪ proposed
▪ ongoing
▪ important , major
▪ welcome
▪ successful
▪ practical
▪ bold , exciting
▪ private
▪ collaborative , cooperative , joint
▪ grass-roots
▪ global , international , local , national , regional , statewide ( AmE )
▪ federal ( AmE ), government , presidential ( AmE )
▪ strategic
▪ business , e-business , e-commerce , marketing
▪ diplomatic , economic , legislative , peace , policy , political
▪ safety , training
▪ development , research
▪ education , educational , health
▪ conservation , environmental
▪ faith-based ( esp. AmE )
▪ community-based ( esp. AmE )
▪ outreach
▪ reform
▪ ballot ( AmE )
… OF INITIATIVES
▪ range , series
VERB + INITIATIVE
▪ undertake
▪
The research ~ is being undertaken by a group of environmentalists.
▪ plan
▪ develop
▪ announce , unveil
▪ create , implement , introduce , launch , set up , start
▪
The government has launched a new policy ~.
▪ be involved in
▪
Ten schools have been involved in the ~.
▪ become involved in , get involved in
▪ pursue
▪ expand
▪ lead , spearhead
▪ approve , pass
▪ oppose
▪ defeat , reject
▪
The peace ~ was rejected out of hand.
▪ fund , sponsor
▪
a peace ~ sponsored by the Organization of African Unity
▪ back , endorse , support
▪
The committee endorsed an ~ by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger.
▪ promote , push
▪ welcome
▪
We welcome the government's ~ to help the homeless.
▪ encourage
INITIATIVE + VERB
▪ be aimed at sth , be designed to
▪
a local ~ aimed at economic regeneration
▪
an ~ designed to promote collaborative research
▪ seek to do sth
▪ focus on sth
▪ include sth , involve sth , relate to sth
▪ fail , founder
▪
The ~ foundered because there was no market interest in redevelopment.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ against
▪
a new ~ against car theft
▪ ~ by
▪
the latest ~ by the UN Secretary General
▪ ~ for
▪
an ~ for peace and human rights
▪ ~ on
▪
the government's major new ~ on crime
2 ability to decide/act independently
ADJECTIVE
▪ great , real
▪ individual , personal , private
▪
It is a very hierarchical company and there's little place for individual ~.
VERB + INITIATIVE
▪ have
▪
He had the ~ to ask what time the last train left.
▪ display , show
▪ act on your own , use , work on your own
▪
He acted on his own ~ and wasn't following orders.
▪
Don't ask me what you should do all the time. Use your ~!
▪ encourage , promote
▪ stifle
▪
Raising taxes on small businesses will stifle ~.
PREPOSITION
▪ on sb's ~
▪
The project was set up on the ~ of a local landowner.
▪ ~ in
▪
Some scientists show little ~ in applying their knowledge.
PHRASES
▪ a lack of ~ , on your own ~
▪
In an unprecedented action, the army, on its own ~, arrested seven civilians.
3 the initiative opportunity to gain an advantage
VERB + THE INITIATIVE
▪ have , hold
▪
After their latest setback, the rebel forces no longer hold the ~.
▪ gain , seize , take
▪ maintain , retain
▪ regain
▪
She then regained the ~ in winning the third game.
▪ lose
THE INITIATIVE + VERB
▪ come from sb/sth , lie with sb
▪
The ~ to reopen negotiations came from Moscow.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ in
▪
She took the ~ in asking the board to conduct an enquiry.