Meaning & use
initial visit
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
The first time you go to see a doctor, professional, or service, before any follow-up appointments.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an initial visit' or 'the initial visit'. Use 'initial visits' for more than one.
Patterns
- on an initial visit
- during the initial visit
- for an initial visit
- schedule an initial visit
The doctor spent extra time with me on my initial visit.
You need to fill out these forms before your initial visit.
During the initial visit, the dentist took X-rays and checked my teeth.
Word forms
| plural | initial visits |
|---|
Common combinations
- initial visit
- The initial visit is usually longer than follow-up appointments.
- on an initial visit
- On an initial visit, the nurse will ask about your medical history.
- schedule an initial visit
- I called to schedule an initial visit with the specialist.
- during the initial visit
- During the initial visit, we discussed the treatment plan.
- free initial visit
- The clinic offers a free initial visit for new patients.
Synonyms and how they differ
- first visit
- More general and slightly more informal; 'initial visit' is common in professional or medical contexts.
- initial consultation
- Often used for a meeting with a professional to discuss a problem, not necessarily a medical appointment.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: initial visit or first visit?
initial visit vs first visit
They are often used interchangeably, but 'initial visit' is more formal and common in medical or professional settings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'initial visit' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct pattern is 'an initial visit to [a place/person]'. The other options are missing the preposition 'to' or use the wrong preposition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “initial visit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.