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Glite Dictionary
to take the initiative

to take the initiative

22 3.8
To be the first to act to make something happen
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : tomar la iniciativa
  • It's important to take the initiative at work if you want to lead your team effectively.
  • took the initiative to pursue
  • took the initiative to create
  • taking the initiative to deal

It's quite easy, but you've got to take the initiative and know your numbers.

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Examples

  • It's quite easy, but you've got to take the initiative and know your numbers.

    Matthew Hussey

  • Non-governmental organizations are taking the initiative in demanding higher standards of human rights observance in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Academic text (1992)

  • We're gonna take the initiative.

    Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)

  • The kids took the initiative themselves.

    Walkout (2006)

  • You take the initiative, make a story out of it.

    Bright Young Things (2003)

  • I took the initiative, sir.

    American Assassin (2017)

  • For that to happen, though, either he or one of his parents had to take the initiative.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Greg, I think it's great that you took the initiative to learn something new.

    Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)

  • I'm impressed that you took the initiative to go there and get it.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Larry and I took the initiative and invited two outstanding specialists from the Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia.

    The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Synonyms

to take the lead
vsto take the initiative
79 3.2

To start guiding a group or activity and make the main decisions

is about acting first to begin something rather than controlling it
to make things happen
vsto take the initiative
21 3.2

To take action that causes events or results

involves acting first to start things rather than just causing outcomes
to get the ball rolling
vsto take the initiative
16 2.8

To start a meeting or project by taking the first step

is about being the first to act in many situations, not only starts
to get the jump
vsto take the initiative
  • Informal
9 6.8

To act before others to get an advantage

is about being first to act to make things happen rather than advantage
to make the running
vsto take the initiative
  • UK
1 7.7

To take the lead in a group or activity and get others to follow

focuses on being the first to act rather than staying ahead
to step to the fore
vsto take the initiative
7.0

To offer to take charge of a group or task

is about acting first to achieve or make things happen, not only being visible

Antonyms

to wait on
  • US
83 3.9

To delay doing something until someone answers or a situation changes

How Proactive

to take the initiative
22 3.8
to take part
169 1.4
to react
776 2.8
to wait
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

take the initiative infinitive
taking the initiative present participle
takes the initiative third person singular
took the initiative past
taken the initiative past participle

Morphology

take + the + initiative

The meaning 'to be the first person to act' is directly derivable from 'take' (assume or seize) + 'initiative' (readiness/proactiveness); together they denote assuming the role of initiator. This is a common, predictable collocation with clear parallels in other languages (e.g., prendre/tomar la iniciativa), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Take the initiative comes from a simple image: to take a step forward and grab the initiative, the start of action. So, when you 'take the initiative' you are 'the first person to act'.