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

See Examples For:

self-starter

Still, Swift, her team, and the media have successfully branded the singer as a self-starter.

From Salon ● Jan. 19, 2024

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

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

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

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston