initiative

1. N-COUNT An initiative is an important act or statement that is intended to solve a problem. (重要的) 法案; 倡议

Local initiatives to help young people have been inadequate. 当地对年轻人的扶助法案一直不够完善。

2. N-SING In a fight or contest, if you have the initiative, you are in a better position than your opponents to decide what to do next. 主动权

We have the initiative; we intend to keep it. 我们拥有主动权；我们想要保持主动权。

3. N-UNCOUNT If you have initiative, you have the ability to decide what to do next and to do it, without needing other people to tell you what to do. 主动性

She was disappointed by his lack of initiative. 她对他缺乏主动性感到失望。

4. N-COUNT An initiative is a political procedure in which a group of citizens propose a new law or a change to the law, which all voters can then vote on. 公民立法提案程序[美国英语]

If they reject or ignore the initiative, the public will vote on it in November. 如果他们拒绝或无视公民立法提案程序，公众将于11月对它进行投票表决。

5. PHRASE If you take the initiative in a situation, you are the first person to act, and are therefore able to control the situation. 采取主动

We are the only power willing to take the initiative in the long struggle to end the war. 在旨在结束战争的长期斗争中，我们是惟一愿意首先采取行动的国家。