Initiative Peace ɪˈnɪʃətɪv Government United Local Noun Bre

• a united nations peace initiative
• a government initiative to combat unemployment
• you won't get much help. you'll have to use your initiative.
• too much bureaucracy represses creativity and initiative.

initiative

1. a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular purpose
• a United Nations peace initiative
• a government initiative to combat unemployment
2. the ability to decide and act on your own without waiting for somebody to tell you what to do
• You won't get much help. You'll have to use your initiative.
• Too much bureaucracy represses creativity and initiative.
• She did it on her own initiative (= without anyone telling her to do it).
3. the power or opportunity to act and gain an advantage before other people do
• to seize/lose the initiative
• It was up to the US to take the initiative in repairing relations.
4. (in some states of the US) a process by which ordinary people can suggest a new law by signing a petition

Extra Examples

• Don’t ask me what you should do all the time. Use your initiative!
• He acted on his own initiative and wasn’t following orders.
• He had the initiative to ask what time the last train left.
• In an unprecedented action, the army, on its own initiative, arrested seven civilians.
• In the second half, Manchester United regained the initiative.
• It is a very hierarchical company and there’s little place for individual initiative.
• Raising taxes on small businesses will stifle initiative.
• She then regained the initiative in winning the third game.
• She took the initiative in asking the board to conduct an enquiry.
• Some scientists show little initiative in applying their knowledge.
• Ten schools have been involved in the initiative.
• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger.
• The government has launched a new policy initiative.
• The initiative foundered because there was no market interest in redevelopment.
• The initiative to re-open negotiations came from Moscow.
• The peace initiative was rejected out of hand.
• The project was set up on the initiative of a local landowner.
• The research initiative is being undertaken by a group of environmentalists.
• We welcome the government’s initiative to help the homeless.
• a local initiative aimed at economic regeneration
• a new initiative against car theft
• a peace initiative sponsored by the Organization of African Unity
• an initiative designed to promote collaborative research
• an initiative for peace and human rights
• fresh initiatives to find a peaceful end to the conflict
• pioneering initiatives in bioengineering
• the government’s major new initiative on crime
• the latest initiative by the UN Secretary General
• A number of initiatives have been planned to tackle street crime.
• Government leaders are meeting to discuss the latest peace initiative.
• They proposed a joint initiative between the local authority and faith groups.

Word Origin

• late 18th cent.: from French, from Latin initiare, from initium ‘beginning’.