Standard Lemma guide

go-getter

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An active and enterprising person; one who is motivated or inclined to excel; one who strives to achieve success or improvement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He's a promising young go-getter, but he needs to learn some things about office politics.
  • Tom Pitella is a go-getter and does not rely on others to prove things in the field of mathematics to him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

someone whose career progresses rapidly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: whizz-kid, whiz-kid, ball of fire

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: actor, doer, worker

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: podnikavec — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Danish: stræber — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Dutch: doorzetter — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Finnish: tarmokas — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • French: fonceur — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • French: fonceuse — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Georgian: მიმღწევი (mimɣc̣evi) — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Georgian: მშოვნელი (mšovneli) — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • German: Draufgänger — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Greek: καταφερτζής (katafertzís) — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Polish: przebojowa osoba — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Spanish: buscavida — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Spanish: busquillo — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Spanish: busquilla — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Spanish: arribista — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Spanish: esprín / mosca / vivo / buzo — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Spanish: buscavidas — one who is motivated or inclined to excel
  • Spanish: vivón — one who is motivated or inclined to excel