initiative
Acting without prompting
Initiative is the drive to act without being prompted—the quality of someone who starts things rather than waiting for instruction: She showed real initiative by reorganizing the filing system on her own.
It also names the first move or opening action: The company seized the initiative in the market.
In politics, an initiative is a process allowing citizens to propose legislation directly: a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.
To take the initiative is to act first, setting events in motion.
Planned sequence of actions
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- effortApplied energy toward goals
- undertakingTask one commits to
venture · endeavor · movement · outreach · drive · push · action · mission
Acting before problems arise
- self-starterOne with initiative
- go-getterAmbitious, driven person
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- determinationFirmness of purpose
ambition · gumption · enterprise · resourcefulness · self-motivated · action-oriented · hustle · moxie
Direct vote on legislation
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- measureUnit of quantity
- plebisciteDirect vote by citizens
- recallMemory retrieval act
amendment · petition · ballot · vote · proposal · grassroots · signature · qualification
To set going
- commencementAct of starting
- inceptionFounding moment
- kickoffOpening play in football
- launchSet into motion
outset · genesis · introduction · inauguration · debut · embarkation · threshold · origin
Depending on oneself alone
- independenceFreedom from external control
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- agencyPower to act
self-sufficiency · sovereignty · self-governance · freedom · individualism · autonomy · decentralization · self-direction
program
Planned sequence of actions
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- effortApplied energy toward goals
undertaking · venture · endeavor · movement · outreach · drive · push · action · mission · operation
proactive
Acting before problems arise
- self-starterOne with initiative
- go-getterAmbitious, driven person
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
determination · ambition · gumption · enterprise · resourcefulness · self-motivated · action-oriented · hustle · moxie · spunk
referendum
Direct vote on legislation
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- measureUnit of quantity
- plebisciteDirect vote by citizens
recall · amendment · petition · ballot · vote · proposal · grassroots · signature · qualification · filing
start
To set going
- commencementAct of starting
- inceptionFounding moment
- kickoffOpening play in football
launch · outset · genesis · introduction · inauguration · debut · embarkation · threshold · origin · onset
self-reliance
Depending on oneself alone
- independenceFreedom from external control
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
agency · self-sufficiency · sovereignty · self-governance · freedom · individualism · autonomy · decentralization · self-direction · self-rule
opening
Gap or start
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- tempoRate of musical performance
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
attack · development · control · center · pressure · Sicilian · King's · Italian · English · French
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- Resourcefulnessresourcefulness, ingenuity, cleverness, inventiveness, problem-solving
- resume buzzwordsleadership, teamwork, communication, experience, problem-solving
- driveambition, determination, eagerness, enthusiasm, fervor
- self-relianceself-sufficiency, independence, resourcefulness, self-discipline, self-motivation
- governance reformsconstitutional convention, constitutional court, amendment process, bill of rights, checks and balances
initiativepassivity
State of non-resistance
inactivity · inertia · inaction · reactivity · submissiveness
initiativelethargy
Abnormal drowsiness and apathy
laziness · indolence · apathy · indifference · sloth
initiativetimidity
Fearful lack of courage
hesitation · reluctance · diffidence · faintheartedness · cowardice
- take the initiativeBegin action independently
- taking initiativeActing without external direction
- seizes the initiativeActs first to control situation
- public health initiativesPrograms protecting population wellbeing
- gang initiationEntry ritual for crime group
- ballot initiativesVoter-decided policy questions
initiation, initiatives, initiating, initiations, reinitiating, reinitiation