Synonyms of go-ahead

go-ahead

noun

as in powerhouse

an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired

a born go-ahead, he was determined to be the first in his family to graduate from college

Synonyms & Similar Words

• powerhouse
• hummer
• self-starter
• live wire
• eager beaver
• enterpriser
• bootstrapper
• go-getter
• highflier
• hustler
• achiever
• doer
• comer
• individualist
• he-man

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• idler
• drone
• loafer
• lounger
• dawdler
• slacker
• procrastinator
• goldbrick
• malingerer
• shirker
• putterer
• trifler
• lazybones
• laggard
• dreamer
• sluggard
• loiterer
• lingerer
• slowpoke
• dropout
• neglecter
• dallier
• stick-in-the-mud
• quitter
• daydreamer
• ignorer
• ne'er-do-well

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of go-ahead

And, finally, Beck breaking free on a run to his left, no defender in sight, for a go-ahead 3-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026

Following Siakam’s go-ahead basket, Derrick White missed a long 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have given the Celtics the win. — Jay King, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026

Eddy Piñeiro’s ensuing point-after kick pushed the 49ers ahead 17-16; Piñeiro missed the final PAT after Purdy’s go-ahead strike to McCaffrey. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026

Brock Purdy threw a go-ahead 6-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffery late in the fourth quarter, San Francisco used a trick play on a TD toss from wide receiver Jauan Jennings, and the 49ers eliminated the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with a 23-19 wild-card victory Sunday. — Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026

Playcaller Kyle Shanahan’s gadget play went for a 29-yard, go-ahead TD to open the fourth quarter. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026

The latter of those touchdowns was a 26-yard pass to Calvin Austin with 55 seconds remaining — a go-ahead score that held up as the game-winner when Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt as time expired. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026

But De’Aaron Fox closed the quarter with four straight points to cut Boston’s lead to 75-73, and Julian Champagnie opened the fourth with a go-ahead corner three in front of the Celtics’ bench. — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026

Brock Purdy threw a go-ahead 6-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey late in the fourth quarter, San Francisco used a trick play on a TD toss from wide receiver Jauan Jennings, and the 49ers eliminated the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with a 23-19 wild-card victory Sunday. — Dan Gelston, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026