Take the initiative means act first, without waiting for anyone to ask: Mina took the initiative to arrange a meeting. In references and CVs it sounds like praise. In a game, an argument or negotiations, it can also mean take control.
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take the initiative to do something; take the initiative and act
- Mina took the initiative to arrange a meeting with the residents.
- Nobody had assigned the task, so Leo took the initiative and cleaned the shared workspace.
- The club is looking for volunteers who can take the initiative when plans change.
What changed
First versionShe took an initiative to organise a welcome event.
RevisionShe took the initiative to organise a welcome event.
A and the can seem interchangeable here, and an initiative is a real phrase. But an initiative is a specific project or programme: a new government initiative. Acting first is only take the initiative.
Take action means do something, possibly because someone told you to. Take the initiative means start first, by your own choice. Show initiative means be proactive in general: she shows a lot of initiative at work. Launch an initiative means start a programme.
Your turn
He took the initiative ___ contact the new supplier.
Show the answer
to — After take the initiative, the action follows as to + verb: to contact. Of doesn't go before a base verb.
Describe a time someone started something useful without being asked. Use take the initiative to.
Our neighbour took the initiative to organise a tool-sharing shelf in the building.
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