initial appointment

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The first meeting you arrange with a doctor, adviser, or organization, before later visits.

   Grammar: Countable; use 'an initial appointment' or 'the initial appointment'. Often followed by 'with' or 'at'.

   Patterns

   • an initial appointment with someone
   • an initial appointment at a place
   • schedule an initial appointment

   I have an initial appointment with the dentist on Monday.

   The clinic sends you a letter before your initial appointment.

   She made an initial appointment at the bank to discuss a loan.

2. 2nouncountablebusiness

   The first stage in hiring someone or choosing a person for a job or role.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in business or official contexts. Followed by 'for' + position.

   Patterns

   • an initial appointment for a position
   • make an initial appointment
   • the initial appointment of someone

   The company announced the initial appointment of a new manager.

   Candidates will have an initial appointment for an interview next week.

   His initial appointment to the committee was only temporary.

Word forms

Common combinations

schedule an initial appointment

Please schedule an initial appointment with the specialist.

attend an initial appointment

You must attend an initial appointment before treatment begins.

initial appointment with a doctor

My initial appointment with a doctor is tomorrow.

initial appointment at the clinic

Her initial appointment at the clinic lasted an hour.

make an initial appointment

I need to make an initial appointment for a check-up.

Synonyms and how they differ

first appointment

More informal and common in everyday speech; 'initial appointment' sounds slightly more formal or official.

intake appointment

Used especially in medical or social services for the first meeting where information is collected.

Word family

appoint verb

To choose someone for a job or position.

appointment noun

A meeting arranged for a particular time.

initially adverb

At the beginning; at first.

Commonly confused: initial appointment or initial point?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “initial appointment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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