initial
Definitions, pronunciation, related words, and community validation from players who tested this word in Spelling Bee.
Community validation
Did you try this word? Vote to let us know if it was accepted or not.
Your vote can be updated later, but rapid repeated voting is rate-limited.
Spelling Bee Profile
How initial fits the hive
Base Score
7
Before any pangram bonus
Unique Letters
5
A I L N T
Two-Letter Start
IN
Useful for systematic scans
Ending
AL
Useful for cleanup scans
- 7 letters
- 5 unique letters
- IN start
- AL ending
- repeated letters
Try it when
- initial is worth 7 points before any pangram bonus.
- It uses 5 unique letters, so it can fit boards that include a, i, l, n, t plus any remaining hive letters.
- Watch the repeated-letter pattern (I x3); those are easy points to miss when scanning quickly.
- The AL ending makes this a useful pattern check after you try the IN start.
- BuzzyWords has saved this word in 2 published Daily pages.
Next useful action
Put initial back into puzzle context.
Pronunciation
Definitions
noun
The first letter of a word or a name.
noun
In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit.
"You can get your initials printed at the top."
noun
A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
noun
Onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.
verb
To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
"Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom."
adjective
Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
"Our initial admiration for their efficiency gave way to disgust about their methods."
adjective
Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.
"The initial letter of names is usually printed with a capital letter."
Related Words
Synonyms
- dropcap
- versal
- incipient
- opening
Antonyms
- final