initially

initially meaning

initially means 'at the start or beginning of something'.

initially :

at first, in the beginning

adverb

▪ Initially, he was shy.

▪ At first, he was shy.

▪ The project initially faced problems.

▪ The project faced problems at the start.

paraphrasing

▪ originally – at first

▪ firstly – at the start

▪ primarily – mainly at first

▪ at first – in the beginning

Pronunciation

initially [ɪˈnɪʃəli]

The stress is on 'nish' and sounds like 'i-nish-uh-lee'.

Common phrases and grammar about initially

initially - Common meaning

adverb

at first, in the beginning

Part of Speech Changes for "initially"

▪ initial (adjective) – at the start

▪ initiation (noun) – the start of something

▪ initiate (verb) – to start something

Common Expressions with "initially"

▪ initially planned – planned at first

▪ initially thought – thought at the start

▪ initially expected – expected at first

▪ initially developed – developed at the beginning

Important examples of initially in TOEIC

Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test

In TOEIC vocabulary questions, initially often refers to the first stage of a process or plan.

▪The team initially planned a small event.

▪The team planned a small event at first.

Example of a confusing word: finally (at the end)

▪The team finally planned a small event.

▪The team planned a small event at the end.

"Initially" is an adverb meaning "at the beginning" or "first," indicating the starting point of an action or plan. In the sentence "The team initially planned a small event," it correctly describes the first stage of planning. "Finally," however, means "at the end" or "after a long time," and using it in this context would suggest the planning occurred at the end of a process, which contradicts the intended meaning. Therefore, "initially" is the correct choice.

Grammar examples from the TOEIC test

Initially is often used to describe the first step or phase in a sequence in TOEIC grammar questions.

▪Initially, the report was short.

▪At first, the report was short.

Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC

initially hesitant
'hesitant at first', used to describe someone unsure at the start.

▪She was initially hesitant to join.

▪She was hesitant to join at first.

initially promising
means 'showing good signs at first'.

▪The project was initially promising.

▪The project showed good signs at the start.

Differences between similar words and initially

initially

,

originally

differences

Initially is used for the start of an action, while originally refers to the first form or version.

initially

▪Initially, the plan was simple.

▪At first, the plan was simple.

originally

▪Originally, the book was in French.

▪At first, the book was in French.

initially

Words with the same origin as initially

The origin of initially

initially comes from the Latin 'initialis', meaning 'beginning'.

Word structure

It has the root init (begin) and suffix ally (adverb), meaning 'in the beginning'.

Words with the same origin

The root of initially is init (begin). Words with the same root include initiate (to start), initial (first).

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initiate

866

▪initiate a project

▪initiate a conversation

noun ┃

verb ┃

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initiate

866

a person who is new to a group

▪initiate a project – to start a project

▪initiate a conversation – to start talking

noun ┃

verb ┃

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initially

867

▪initially planned

▪initially thought

current
post

adverb ┃

Views 1

initially

867

at first, in the beginning

▪initially planned – planned at first

▪initially thought – thought at the start

adverb ┃

Views 1

contestant

868

▪top contestant

▪each contestant

noun ┃

Views 1

contestant

868

competitor, participant, entrant

▪top contestant – best participant

▪each contestant – every participant

noun ┃

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substantially

869

▪increase substantially

▪change substantially

adverb ┃

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substantially

869

greatly, significantly

▪increase substantially – to grow a lot

▪change substantially – to alter a lot

adverb ┃

Views 2

automate

870

▪automate a process

▪automate the system

Verb ┃

Views 2

automate

870

to make automatic, to mechanize

▪automate a process – make a process automatic

▪automate the system – make the system automatic

initially meaning

initially :

at first, in the beginning

adverb

paraphrasing

Pronunciation

initially [ɪˈnɪʃəli]

Common phrases and grammar about initially

initially - Common meaning

adverb

at first, in the beginning

Part of Speech Changes for "initially"

Common Expressions with "initially"

Important examples of initially in TOEIC

Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test

Example of a confusing word: finally (at the end)

Grammar examples from the TOEIC test

initially

Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC

initially hesitant 'hesitant at first', used to describe someone unsure at the start.

initially promising means 'showing good signs at first'.

Differences between similar words and initially

initially

,

originally

differences

Words with the same origin as initially

The origin of initially

Word structure

Words with the same origin

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866

noun ┃

verb ┃

Views 2

866

a person who is new to a group

noun ┃

verb ┃

Views 2

867

currentpost

adverb ┃

Views 1

867

at first, in the beginning

adverb ┃

Views 1

868

noun ┃

Views 1

868

competitor, participant, entrant

noun ┃

Views 1

869

adverb ┃

Views 2

869

greatly, significantly

adverb ┃

Views 2

870

Verb ┃

Views 2

870

to make automatic, to mechanize

Verb ┃

Views 2

Same category words

leadership, teamwork

initially

at first, in the beginning

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initially hesitant
'hesitant at first', used to describe someone unsure at the start.

initially promising
means 'showing good signs at first'.

current
post