go-getter

1 of 3

noun (1)

go-get·​ter ˈgō-ˈge-tər How to pronounce go-getter (audio)
-ˌge-
Synonyms of go-getternext
: an aggressively enterprising person
go-getting adjective or noun

go-getting

2 of 3

adjective

: enterprising, aggressive
the go-getting materialism of the American environmentM. J. Adler
a red-blooded, go-getting, two-fisted American he-manWeston La Barre

go-getting

3 of 3

noun (2)

"
plural -s
: aggressiveness, enterprise
admired as an example of successful go-gettingHarper's
the current American psychology emphasizes go-gettingAmerican Review of Reviews

Synonyms of go-getter

Examples of go-getter in a Sentence

Noun (1) a go-getter with his sights set on the presidency
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Others could find your go-getter approach refreshing, while some may experience it as confrontational. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Scorpio The sign symbolized by the Scorpion is co-ruled by go-getter Mars and transformative Pluto, leading your kiddo to be quite dynamic, fearless, magnetic, and powerful. Maressa Brown, Parents, 18 June 2026 His enthusiasm, his energeticness, his go-getter mentality. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026 Six years later, the go-getter is still addressing the community’s needs and is helping to reshape societal perceptions of menstruation. Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 14 May 2026 The go-getter approach of then-Mayor Francis Suarez also helped. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026 Your co-ruler, go-getter Mars, enters the same sector on March 2, which throws more fuel behind any endeavor tied to expressing yourself or being more spontaneous and lighthearted with your nearest and dearest. Maressa Brown, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026 Brooks also gives Ella a dead mother (Rebecca Hall) and a troubled brother (Spike Fearn), rendering the character a perfect storm of familial trauma, which makes her go-getter attitude all the more impressive. Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2025 Musical theater loves a go-getter, and halfhearted irony just can’t stand up to this much zazz. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of go-getter was in 1919

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Go-getter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go-getter. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

go-getter

noun
go-get·​ter
ˈgō-ˌget-ər
: an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired
go-getting
-ˌget-iŋ
adjective or noun

More from Merriam-Webster on go-getter

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster