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

Etymology

Origin of self-starter

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

So when you croon the lines, you need to both gently guide them so they’re not intimidated, but also motivate them to be an independent self-starter.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2023

If you are a self-starter who thrives under minimal supervision, then you will find great success as the surfing jet-ski guy.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2021

You have been improvising so much the last several years in your career; you have been a self-starter.

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2020

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

I emphasized my ability to work independently, that I was a self-starter and had excellent time management skills.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad