self-starter

American  

[self-stahr-ter] / ˈsɛlfˈstɑr tər /

noun

1. starter.

2. Informal. a person who begins work or undertakes a project on their own initiative, without needing to be told or encouraged to do so.

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self-starter British  

noun

1. the former name for a starter

2. a person who is strongly motivated and shows initiative, esp at work

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Other Word Forms

• self-starting
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of self-starter

First recorded in 1890–95

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-starter

As Rickey, a flighty self-starter who just can’t seem to get started, Angarano is wildly funny and also painfully familiar.

From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2025

She’s a natural, a self-starter, a quick learner, a hard bargainer, a mistress of disguise — really just putting on a wig, some good clothes and a posh British or American accent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2024

According to Ms. Smith, Edith Gregor Halpert was a “formidable, feisty and sometimes manipulative self-starter with an ecumenical eye, a passion for art and an inborn instinct for sales and promotion.”

From New York Times ● Nov. 28, 2019

The position exists at the intersection of the editorial, sales, and technology teams at Slate and presents a unique opportunity for a strategic thinker and self-starter to work collaboratively with individuals across the business.

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2018

Their son was a self-starter, a little bit of a loner, and very self-sufficient.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

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