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Synonyms

go-getter

American  
[goh-get-er, -get-] / ˈgoʊˈgɛt ər, -ˌgɛt- /

noun

Informal.
  • go-getters
    plural
  1. an enterprising, aggressive person.


go-getter British  

noun

  1. informal an ambitious enterprising person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of go-getter

1920–25, probably from the exhortation Go get 'em!; see -er 1


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

We could be the go-getter, the people pleaser, the co-dependent one, or even the savior.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 27, 2026

Which young go-getter is going to take command?

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2025

Times investigation, which the real-life Montañez cites in his 2024 defamation suit against the popular chip company, Garcia says he resonates with his character’s go-getter spirit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2025

A brash go-getter, Sean Combs became an overnight millionaire when he launched Bad Boy Records in 1993 with a roster of top artists.

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2025

A go-getter might have dreamt up clever ways of promoting the two unpopular titles, but I have no mind for business and considered staying awake to be enough of an accomplishment.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Some go-getters get up even earlier than 5 a.m.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026

That’s right, all you go-getters out there: When you scream your 87th cover letter into the ghost-job void, there’s a one in three chance that your time was wasted for “no reason in particular.”

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2024

You might not ever want to be in the nerd posse or ride with the millionaire go-getters but knowing your mindset and tendencies will help you find your best path.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 17, 2022

The Alphabet Song When it comes to reciting my letters, I’m one of my preschool’s go-getters!

From Washington Post ● Jul. 15, 2021

It turns out that even two committed go-getters with a deep love and a robust work ethic can’t will themselves into being pregnant.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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