enterprise - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
enterprise Word Meanings
- a business or company
- a project or activity, especially one that requires initiative and risk
- a bold or daring plan
enterprise Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
enterprise Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈɛntəpraɪz/
US
/ˈɛntərpraɪz/
enterprise Word Etymology
Enterprise comes from 'entre' (between) + 'prendre' (to take) from Old French, signifying 'to undertake'. Imagine a daring adventurer taking a bold step forward to start a new venture, a visual of an explorer setting sail on the open sea.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
First I stand up, push aside a chair, and set a notebook on the desk. I move ideas around a whiteboard, shift priorities, and adjust the plan for today. The room hums with effort as I hold the line between risk and reward, keeping my focus and changing course when needed. This enterprise starts to feel real, a bold push into something new that asks for nerve, teamwork, and steady momentum.
Real Context
Enterprise is a versatile word with three closely related senses. It can denote a business or company, especially when discussing organized ventures, startups, or corporate entities. It also refers to a project or activity that requires initiative and risk, such as developing a new product or entering an unfamiliar market. In a broader sense, it can describe a bold or daring plan that aims to achieve something notable. Etymologically, enterprise comes from Old French entreprendre, meaning 'to undertake.' In modern usage, the term can carry a formal tone and is often contrasted with everyday words like business or venture.
Usage Reminders
- Use enterprise to refer to a company or serious, organized venture.
- Distinguish enterprise from business when emphasizing initiative or risk.
- Enterprising describes someone bold and resourceful.
- In contexts like tech or social sectors, you’ll see phrases like social enterprise.
- Capitalization matters when Enterprise is used as a company name or title.
Common Misconceptions
- It always refers to a large company.
- It only means a profit-driven business.
- It cannot describe personal undertakings.
- It is used only in formal contexts.
- It is interchangeable with 'venture' in every situation.
Thinking Differences
Learners often think of enterprise as only a big company, or as a formal, business-only term. In English, it also embraces bold undertakings and may carry a slightly lofty tone; many languages use separate words for scope and size, so learners may misapply 'enterprise' to everyday hobbies.
Learning Tips
- Memrise 6 tips: Explore collocations like enterprise software, social enterprise, and entrepreneurial enterprise.
- Practice distinguishing enterprise as a company vs. a bold undertaking.
- Listen for formal vs. everyday tone in sentences.
- Use enterprising as an adjective to describe people or actions.
- Watch for fixed phrases: large enterprise, small enterprise, start-up enterprise.
- Review capitalization rules when enterprise is part of a proper noun.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'enterprise'?
A.Business organization
B.Athletic competition
C.Educational institution
D.Medical procedure
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'enterprise' correctly?
A.The enterprise of starting a new business can be challenging
B.He underwent a surgery yesterday
C.She is studying at the university
D.I went to the park for a picnic
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'enterprise'?
A.Carefree
B.Initiative
C.Distracted
D.Lazy
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is an opposite of 'enterprise'?
A.Inactivity
B.Generous
C.Excited
D.Content
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you use the word 'enterprise'?
A.Cooking a meal
B.Taking a nap
C.Running a business
D.Watching a movie
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