initially

UK: /ɪˈnɪʃəli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•i•tial /ɪˈnɪʃəl/   adj., n., v., -tialed, -tial•ing or (esp. Brit.) -tialled, -tial•ling. 
adj. [usually: before a noun]

1. of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning;
   first:
   the initial step in a process.

n. [countable]

2. an initial letter, as of a proper name:
   Your initials are the first letters of your first and last name.

v. [~ + object]

3. to mark or sign with the initials of one's name:
   initialed the report and filed it away.

in•i•tial•ly, adv. 

: Initially we didn't hear anything.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•i•tial  (i nish′əl), adj., n., v., -tialed, -tial•ing or (esp. Brit.) -tialled, -tial•ling. 
adj. 

1. of, pertaining to, or occurring at the beginning;
   first:
   the initial step in a process.
2. Phonetics occurring at the beginning of a word or syllable, as the (k) sound of kite, chasm, or quay.

n. 

3. an initial letter, as of a word.
4. the first letter of a proper name.
5. a letter of extra size or an ornamental character used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book, manuscript, or the like.

v.t. 

6. to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, esp. as a token of preliminary or informal approval.

• Latin initiālis, equivalent. to initi(um) beginning (init-, noun, nominal derivative of inīre to enter, begin; in- in-² + īre to go; compare comes) + -ium -ium) + -alis -al¹
• 1520–30

in•i′tial•er, n. 
in•i′tial•ly, adv.