a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem

The peace initiative was welcomed by both sides. 和平倡议受到了双方的欢迎。

the ability to use your judgment to make decisions and do things without needing to be told what to do

Although she was quite young, she showed a lot of initiative and was promoted to manager after a year. 她虽然很年轻，但工作积极主动，一年后就被提拔为经理。

I shouldn't always have to tell you what to do, use your initiative (= use your own judgment to decide what to do)! 不能总让我告诉你该做什么，你应该有自己的判断！

If you do something on your own initiative, you plan it and decide to do it yourself without anyone telling you what to do.

Some states acted under threat of litigation, and others on their own initiative.

Some students, on their own initiative, have started a series of discussions on race.

A week later he went humbly, and on his own initiative, to apologize to Marcia.

Acting on her own initiative, she arranged for a firm of cleaners to come to the house.

To be successful in this job, you have to be capable of working on your own initiative.

the power or opportunity to win an advantage

to seize/take/lose the initiative 掌握／采取／失去主动权

The ideal candidate for this position will take the initiative to proactively find solutions to problems.

Legislators have seized the initiative to codify the right into law.

Rebels seized the initiative and pressed deeper into occupied territory.

I'm waiting for our team to take the initiative and start scoring, instead of constantly playing defence.