diligent

adjective

dil·i·gent ˈdi-lə-jənt How to pronounce diligent (audio)

: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking

a diligent worker

diligently adverb

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!

Example Sentences

The American intelligence community's single greatest failing is its lack of good "humint"—human intelligence, the dirty, diligent, shoe-leather penetration of terror networks.

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

Recent Examples on the Web The best way to protect yourself or your kids from EV-D68, experts said, is to be diligent about hand-washing and to wear a mask in public.

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

diligent

adjective

as in engaged

involved in often constant activity a student who has been unceasingly diligent in pursuit of a degree in mathematics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

The meanings of assiduous and diligent largely overlap; however, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

While the synonyms busy and diligent are close in meaning, busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

Although the words industrious and diligent have much in common, industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

The words sedulous and diligent can be used in similar contexts, but sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application.

a sedulous investigation of the murder

单词	diligent
释义	diligent adjective dil·i·gent ˈdi-lə-jənt : characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking a diligent worker diligently adverb 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 See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The American intelligence community's single greatest failing is its lack of good "humint"—human intelligence, the dirty, diligent, shoe-leather penetration of terror networks. 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 Recent Examples on the Web The best way to protect yourself or your kids from EV-D68, experts said, is to be diligent about hand-washing and to wear a mask in public. 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 Etymology 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 First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition diligent adjective dil·i·gent ˈdi-lə-jənt : showing steady and earnest care and hard work a diligent search diligent adjective as in engaged involved in often constant activity a student who has been unceasingly diligent in pursuit of a degree in mathematics Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance 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 See More 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. very diligent in her pursuit of a degree The meanings of assiduous and diligent largely overlap; however, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application. assiduous practice While the synonyms busy and diligent are close in meaning, busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure. too busy to spend time with the children Although the words industrious and diligent have much in common, industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work. industrious employees The words sedulous and diligent can be used in similar contexts, but sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application. a sedulous investigation of the murder
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diligent

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser