Word
initially
Phoneticsini·tial·ly
US/ˌɪˈnɪʃəɫi/
UK/ɪnˈɪʃəlˌi/
Adverb of time
Definition
adv. at the very beginning of a process or situation. You use this to describe how something started before it changed later on.
adv. at the beginning or in the first stage of a process. Often used to contrast an original state with a subsequent change or development.
Examples
“Initially, the plan seemed very simple.”
“Initially, the company struggled to find customers, but sales grew rapidly after they changed their marketing strategy.”
“While the symptoms were initially dismissed as a common cold, they eventually developed into a more serious respiratory infection requiring hospitalisation.”
Examples
simple
“Initially, the plan seemed very simple.”
contextual
“Initially, the company struggled to find customers, but sales grew rapidly after they changed their marketing strategy.”
complex
“While the symptoms were initially dismissed as a common cold, they eventually developed into a more serious respiratory infection requiring hospitalisation.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “initially” in context.
Verb
01. initially appear
“The task initially appeared simple, but it turned out to be quite complex.”
adv + verb
02. initially develop
“The software was initially developed for internal use before being released to the public.”
adv + verb
03. initially establish
“The company was initially established as a small family business in 1920.”
adv + verb
04. initially identify
“Scientists initially identified the virus in a remote rural area.”
adv + verb
05. initially present
“The patient initially presented with a high fever and a persistent cough.”
adv + verb
06. initially propose
“The bridge was initially proposed in the 1990s, but construction didn't start for years.”
adv + verb
07. initially thought
08. initially accused
09. initially dismissed
10. initially issued
11. initially planned
12. initially suspected
Usage
Typically placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the scene, or before the main verb to modify the action.
Pitfall
I initially to go there
I initially went there
Initially is an adverb and cannot function as a verb; it must modify a verb, adjective, or clause.
Real-World Examples
“Naturally, the full situation is a little more layered than it initially seems.” “The agency had initially refused to even review the application but reversed course after a public outcry.” “It happened initially after a motorcycle accident when his wife was expecting their first child.” Etymology
From initial + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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