{
    "term": "initiative",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular purpose",
            "sensetop": "initiative to do somethinginitiative by somebody/somethinginitiative for something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a United Nations peace initiative"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Most **policy initiatives** come from the White House."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **launch an initiative**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The money was intended to **support initiatives** in bilingual education."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**new initiatives** to improve animal welfare",
                    "contextForm": "initiative to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a government initiative to combat unemployment"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a joint initiative by the Scottish and UK governments",
                    "contextForm": "initiative by somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "an initiative for peace and human rights",
                    "contextForm": "initiative for something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Ten schools have been involved in the initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government has launched a new policy initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The initiative foundered because there was no market interest in redevelopment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The peace initiative was rejected out of hand."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The research initiative is being undertaken by a group of environmentalists."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We welcome the government's initiative to help homeless people."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a local initiative aimed at economic regeneration"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a new initiative against car theft"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a peace initiative sponsored by the Organization of African Unity"
                },
                {
                    "text": "an initiative designed to promote collaborative research"
                },
                {
                    "text": "fresh initiatives to find a peaceful end to the conflict"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The initiative to reopen negotiations came from Washington."
                },
                {
                    "text": "pioneering initiatives in bioengineering"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the government's major new initiative on crime"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the latest initiative by the UN Secretary General"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A number of initiatives have been planned to tackle street crime."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Government leaders are meeting to discuss the latest peace initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They proposed a joint initiative between the local authority and faith groups."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["fresh", "new", "innovative"],
                "… of initiatives": ["range", "series"],
                "verb + initiative": ["undertake", "plan", "develop"],
                "initiative + verb": [
                    "be aimed at something",
                    "be designed to",
                    "seek to do something"
                ],
                "preposition": ["initiative against", "initiative by", "initiative for"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the ability to decide and act on your own without waiting for somebody to tell you what to do",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He said I was lazy and had no initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You won't get much help. You'll have to **use your initiative**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She needs to show more initiative if she wants to succeed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Too much bureaucracy represses creativity and initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She did it **on her own initiative** *(= without anyone telling her to do it)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't ask me what you should do all the time. Use your initiative!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He acted on his own initiative and wasn't following orders."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had the initiative to ask what time the last train left."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a very hierarchical company and there's little place for individual initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Raising taxes on small businesses will stifle initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In an unprecedented action, the army, on its own initiative, arrested seven civilians."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some scientists show little initiative in applying their knowledge."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The project was set up on the initiative of a local landowner."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["great", "real", "individual"],
                "verb + initiative": ["have", "display", "show"],
                "preposition": ["on somebody’s initiative", "initiative in"],
                "phrases": ["a lack of initiative", "on your own initiative"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "the power or opportunity to act and gain an advantage before other people do",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **seize/regain the initiative**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was up to the US to **take the initiative** in repairing relations."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In the second half, Manchester United regained the initiative."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She then regained the initiative in winning the third game."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He took the initiative in asking the board to conduct an inquiry."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + the initiative": ["have", "hold", "gain"],
                "the initiative + verb": [
                    "come from somebody/​something",
                    "lie with somebody"
                ],
                "preposition": ["initiative in"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "(in some states of the US) a process by which ordinary people can suggest a new law by signing a petition",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a **ballot initiative** to establish a local minimum wage"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rights of referendum and initiative foster active participation by citizens."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/",
                "audio": "in/initiative/initiative__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/",
                "audio": "in/initiative/initiative__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late 18th cent.: from French, from Latin initiare, from initium ‘beginning’."
}