Word
enterprise
Phoneticsen·ter·prise, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɛnɝˌpɹaɪz/
UK/ˈɛntəpɹˌaɪz/
Definitions
01a business
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a company or a business organization.
n. a business organization or company, often implying a commercial or industrial scale.
“The government is offering grants to help small enterprises grow.”
“The merger created a massive global enterprise with operations in over fifty countries and a workforce exceeding one hundred thousand.”
Synonyms
02a project
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a large, new, or difficult project that requires effort.
n. a purposeful and typically ambitious undertaking or venture.
“Building the new bridge was a massive enterprise that took five years.”
“The exploration of the deep ocean remains a challenging enterprise that requires significant international cooperation and funding.”
Synonyms
03initiative
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic
n. the ability to think of new ideas and make them succeed.
n. the quality of energy, initiative, and resourcefulness in carrying out projects.
“She showed great enterprise by starting her own shop at age eighteen.”
“The success of the startup was largely due to the founders' enterprise and their willingness to take calculated risks in a volatile market.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “enterprise” in context.
Adjective
01. commercial enterprise
“The museum is run as a commercial enterprise to ensure it remains self-funding.”
adj + noun
Usage
Countable when referring to a specific project or company; uncountable when referring to the general quality of being bold or industrious.
Real-World Examples
“The company mainly recommends this choice to enterprises, not consumers.” “It is also about how current policy changes may reshape the American research enterprise for decades to come.” “The notable exceptions are the athletes themselves, who until 2021 got little more than scholarships, even though their talent and work are at the center of the whole enterprise.” Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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