Words / B2

ENT-uh-pryz-ing/ˈentəpraɪzɪŋ/

Enterprising means good at thinking of new projects and willing to take risks to make them happen: an enterprising firm; enterprising students. Enterprise (already in B2) is the noun; resourceful is a close twin; entrepreneurial is more business-formal. Calling a firm enterprising is not analysis; name the product and the year. Mix-up: enterprising vs enterprise as a company name only; enterprising vs entertaining; do not write enterprising for a copycat stall with no new idea in the source.

Meaning

Good at thinking of new projects and willing to take risks to make them happen.

Examples

• “Calling a firm enterprising is not analysis; name the product and the year, the business paper said.”
• “Enterprising fieldwork featured in the geography write-up, which is still a named method — quote it.”

Good to know

an enterprising + noun. Noun: enterprise (already in B2). Close: resourceful / entrepreneurial. Trap: entertaining / a copycat stall. Business and citizenship. New project plus risk — name the idea.

Near in meaning

resourceful, entrepreneurial, initiative-taking

New