Meaning & use
self-starting
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Able to work or act without needing to be told or helped by others.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a self-starting employee. Not used after 'be' in this sense.
Patterns
- a self-starting person
- self-starting employee
They are looking for a self-starting employee for the new office.
Her self-starting attitude impressed the manager.
A self-starting student does not wait for homework reminders.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
(Of a machine or engine) able to start working by itself, without an external push.
Grammar: Technical use; usually before a noun: a self-starting motor.
Patterns
- a self-starting motor
- self-starting engine
The new generator is self-starting and needs no manual switch.
A self-starting motor saves time in an emergency.
Common combinations
- self-starting person
- A self-starting person will find work without being asked.
- self-starting employee
- The ad asks for a self-starting employee with sales experience.
- self-starting motor
- The self-starting motor turns on automatically when power returns.
Synonyms and how they differ
- proactive
- Focuses on taking action before problems happen; self-starting focuses on acting without being told.
- independent
- Means not needing help from others; self-starting means you start work on your own.
Opposites
Word family
- self-starter noun
- A person who is self-starting.
Commonly confused: self-starting or self-started?
self-starting vs self-started
Self-started means started by the person themselves, not describing a general ability.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'self-starting' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Self-starting' is an adjective used before a noun, so 'a self-starting worker' is correct. Option 1 is wrong because it is not used after 'be' in this sense. Option 3 is missing 'a'. Option 4 puts the adjective after the noun, which is not natural here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “self-starting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.