initially — at the beginning; at first
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: at the beginning; at first
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈnɪʃəli/
Example Sentences
- Initially, he was afraid of cats, but now he has five of them.
- The project was initially estimated to cost $1 million.
- Initially, she thought learning Korean would be impossible, but now she's fluent.
initially
ADVERB[/ɪˈnɪʃəli/]
at the beginning; at first

The team initially planned a different direction before discussing new ideas.

The design initially looked simple before improvements were added. (INITIAL + AT FIRST = INITIALLY → initially means at the beginning stage or at first)

The idea initially seemed small but eventually grew successfully.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'initialis' meaning 'of or pertaining to the beginning,' derived from 'initium' meaning 'beginning' or 'entrance.' The word entered English through Old French and Medieval Latin.
Breakdown
initial (from Latin initium 'beginning' + -alis 'of or pertaining to') + -ly (adverb suffix) = initially
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Initially, he was afraid of cats, but now he has five of them.”
“The project was initially estimated to cost $1 million.”
“Initially, she thought learning Korean would be impossible, but now she's fluent.”
“Initially, the restaurant only served pizza, but now it's a five-star fine dining establishment.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.