diligent
adjective
Did you know?
You're more likely to be diligent about something if you love doing it. The etymology of diligent reflects the fact that affection can lead to energetic effort. The word, which entered English in the 14th century by way of Anglo-French, descends from the Latin verb diligere, meaning "to value or esteem highly" or "to love." The Latin diligere was formed by adding the di- prefix (from dis-, "apart") to the verb legere, an ancestor of the English legend, meaning "to gather, select" or "to read." Of course, you don't need to care for the task at hand in order to be diligent, but it certainly does help!
Synonyms
- active
- assiduous
- bustling
- busy
- employed
- engaged
- hopping
- industrious
- laborious
- occupied
- sedulous
- tied-up
- working
Example Sentences
Johanna McGeary, Time, 15 Oct. 2001 Like any diligent foreign correspondent, he attends the briefings and collects face time with the officials, but he knows it's the citizens (the upstanding as well as the jailers, the whores, the black marketeers and the smugglers) who tell the truth … Rolling Stone, 19 Sept. 1996 He was a fourth-year drama student at UCLA and diligent about such valuable actorly exercises as eavesdropping, spying, and telling complicated lies to fellow passengers on airplanes. Michael Chabon, A Model World and Other Stories, 1991 In spite of diligent work as editor, hack writer, sea captain, and assorted other trades, he wound up poor. Monroe K. Spears, American Ambitions, 1987 a student who has been unceasingly diligent in pursuit of a degree in mathematics Aria Bendix, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2022 For those eager to place real-life bets, diligent research and the stock market may offer validation of sagacity. Steven Phillips, STAT, 6 Sep. 2022 Reach your goals through diligent research and clear communication. Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 14 Sep. 2021 Berks County District Attorney Adams praised authorities for their diligent work in the case. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 22 Aug. 2022 Aside from managing risk, being a diligent trend follower helps with wealth growth over time. Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Perry’s diligent efforts on Trump’s behalf also include allegedly seeking a preemptive pardon in case of any criminal liability stemming from his efforts to overturn the election. Kim Bellware, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Aug. 2022 As the on-site supervisor, Richards’s diligent quality control at the airport resulted in a top ranking and the lowest error rate nationwide frequently during his long tenure. Keith Allen, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2022 Cheer powered the growth of capitalism, too, by boosting productivity (the economist Adam Smith identified a virtuous circle in which higher wages led to cheerfulness and thus more diligent work) and fueling the consumer economy. Ian Beacock, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin diligent-, diligens, from present participle of diligere to esteem, love, from di- (from dis- apart) + legere to select — more at legend
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
diligent
adjective
diligent
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- engaged
- busy
- employed
- assiduous
- working
- active
- industrious
- occupied
- preoccupied
- sedulous
- laborious
- immersed
- bustling
- focused
- hopping
- absorbed
- going
- concentrating
- hardworking
- tied-up
- tireless
- buzzing
- engrossed
- intent
- lively
- vigorous
- operating
- indefatigable
- energetic
- vibrant
- functioning
- operational
- humming
- astir
- swamped
- untiring
- operative
- animated
- running
- focussed
- thriving
- flourishing
- functional
- living
- happening
- knee-deep
- alive
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- idle
- inactive
- free
- unemployed
- unoccupied
- passive
- slow
- unbusy
- latent
- sleepy
- quiescent
- dormant
- asleep
- inert
- lifeless
- dull
- dead
- inoperative
- nonoperating
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of diligent are assiduous, busy, industrious, and sedulous. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.
The meanings of assiduous and diligent largely overlap; however, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.
While the synonyms busy and diligent are close in meaning, busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.
Although the words industrious and diligent have much in common, industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.
The words sedulous and diligent can be used in similar contexts, but sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application.