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Synonyms

enterprising

American  
[en-ter-prahy-zing] / ˈɛn tərˌpraɪ zɪŋ /

adjective

  1. ready to undertake projects of importance or difficulty, or untried schemes; energetic in carrying out any undertaking.

    Business is in need of enterprising young people.
    Synonyms:
    adventurous, resourceful, venturesome, venturous
    Antonyms:
    cautious, timid

  2. characterized by great imagination or initiative.

    an enterprising foreign policy.
enterprising British  
/ ˈɛntəˌpraɪzɪŋ /

adjective

  1. ready to embark on new ventures; full of boldness and initiative

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See ambitious.

Other Word Forms

  • enterprisingly adverb
  • nonenterprising adjective
  • unenterprising adjective
  • unenterprisingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of enterprising

First recorded in 1565–75; enterprise + -ing 2

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.