go-getting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of go-gettingnext
1
as in ambitious
having a strong desire for personal advancement this job is a great opportunity for some go-getting young person

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal a determined newcomer who made a go-getting bid for the governorship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

go-getting

2 of 2

noun

as in ambition
eager desire for personal advancement with all his go-getting, he should move quickly up the corporate ladder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of go-getting
Noun
The future of much of African filmmaking will depend on the success of such go-getting figures. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for go-getting
  1. ambitious
  2. aggressive
  3. ambition
  4. aspiring
  5. adventurous
  6. enterprising
  7. fierce
  8. militant
Adjective
  • The change could reshape one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure projects in the US.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Hathaway tells them to be ambitious and creative, and the designers do have a bigger budget of $700, but once again, only one day.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambitious
Adjective
  • His preference for a 4-2-3-1 has been evident, however, and the German is looking for Newcastle to be aggressive in the press, intensive and also direct, with a plan to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Throughout his scuffles, however, Boone felt Grisham had gotten more aggressive inside the strike zone.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Noun
  • Fast-forward three years and Suzuki is on the verge of fulfilling that ambition at Villa, after starring for his country at this summer’s World Cup.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • And Grand Wailea knew to match outsized ambition with outsized talent.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambition
Adjective
  • The pair are best friends of Fabian Salah, an aspiring musician who makes up one half of the main couple in that novel alongside hockey player Ryan Price.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Then there’s Casey Trotter as an aspiring drummer named Cliff.
    — Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of aspiring
Adjective
  • Creating Lifetime Consumers Intelligent and adventurous, Belle writes the ending to her own story.
    — Megan duBois, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • With 40-foot waves at Nelscott Reef, there’s also surfing for the adventurous set.
    — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of adventurous
Adjective
  • This feature helped enable what Nokia researchers called kiosks—informal pay-per-call services, in which an enterprising phone subscriber charged neighbors and family members by the minute for use of the device.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 13 July 2026
  • Their younger son’s back issues are indeed the least of the family’s problems, especially when a deal made with a more enterprising neighboring farmer winds up going bust.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Definition of enterprising
Adjective
  • Once known for his fierce striking, power leg kicks, wheel kicks and punches.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • There's fierce competition among the seven other receivers on the camp roster for an opening day roster spot.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • Released foreign prisoners, mainly Syrian Islamist militant prisoners, would be transferred to Lebanon’s General Security intelligence agency that is responsible for enforcing immigration laws.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Trump had said Israeli forces would withdraw as the Hamas militant group’s disarmament is completed.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of militant

Browse Nearby Words

go-getters
go-getting
goggle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Go-getting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/go-getting. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All