toil
1 Americannoun
verb (used without object)
-
toils,
present (3rd person singular)
-
toiled,
past participle, past
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toiling
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
toils,
present (3rd person singular)
-
toiled,
past participle, past
-
toiling
present participle
noun
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hard or exhausting work
-
an obsolete word for strife
verb
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(intr) to labour
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(intr) to progress with slow painful movements
to toil up a hill
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archaic (tr) to achieve by toil
noun
-
(often plural) a net or snare
the toils of fortune had ensnared him
-
archaic a trap for wild beasts
Usage
What are other ways to say toil?
The noun toil refers to hard and continuous work. How is toil different from drudgery, labor, and work? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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toilsimple
-
toilssimple
-
have toiledperfect
-
has toiledperfect
-
am toilingprogressive
-
are toilingprogressive
-
is toilingprogressive
-
have been toilingperfect progressive
-
has been toilingperfect progressive
Past
-
toiledsimple
-
had toiledperfect
-
was toilingprogressive
-
were toilingprogressive
-
had been toilingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of toil1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun toil(e) “violent conflict, battle,” from Anglo-French toil(e), toyl “contention,” from Old French toeil, tooil “confusion, contention, battle,” ultimately from Latin tudiculāre “to stir up, beat,” verbal derivative of tudicula “machine for crushing olives,” equivalent to tudi- (stem of tundere “to strike, beat”) + -cula -cule 2
Origin of toil2
Fifst recorded in 1520–30; from French toile, from Latin tēla “web”
Explanation
Toil is another word for work. You toil as a customer service rep all day, but you'd prefer to work as a rock goddess. Unfortunately, there weren't many ads in the employment section for goddesses — rock or otherwise. Although toil means "work" (in both its noun and verb forms), it usually has the added meaning of hard work, especially physical labor. If you'd lived during the Great Depression, you might have toiled on roadwork and conservation projects. Your toils would have created roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for example. Thanks for all your hard work! Now, relax and enjoy the scenery.
Vocabulary lists containing toil
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Labor Day Lexicon: Words That Put You To Work
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Animal Farm
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
After years of investment, hype, and toil, their A.I. code was quite good—maybe too good.
From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026
New Zealand's combination of hard toil and sparkling hands then bought them a way back into the game just before half-time.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
He famously worked alone, content to toil away on his own singular vision, but the innovations he made in visual effects spread well beyond his studio.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
McDonald’s, Chipotle and other restaurant giants have also faced food safety crises, and have had to toil to regain customers’ trust and business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Did Father aim to suggest God was not obligated to send us down any beans or squash at all, no matter how we might toil in His name?
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
In a remote corner of the Bannau Brycheiniog, or Brecon Beacons, on fallow farmland hosting three sites of special scientific interest, Paul toils over his creations, surrounded by heat and metal.
From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2025
Keuer wonders if the work is worth it, noting how hard he toils for little pay.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025
Co-produced with Edgar Barrera and Sky Rompiendo, the song toils with the wistfulness of what never came to be, and the hope of what could become.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2024
Even “Minari,” which chronicled the toils of a Korean immigrant family, offered a rare look at Asian American life in rural Arkansas.
From New York Times ● Jul. 6, 2023
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
A native of Sonora, Mexico, Yepez and her husband toiled at various food trucks and restaurants until 2018, when they launched a series of stands named after their daughter: Ricos Tacos Naomi.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
County team — toiled for days to reach Gil, who worked as a security guard in an underground parking structure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
After Sharma was dismissed by Liam McCarthy, India's middle-order toiled as Hollard took the wickets of Ishan Kishan, captain Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
Casemiro, 34, showed his age as he toiled in the heat before he was replaced at half-time as Morocco dominated without adding to the lead given to them by Ismael Saibari.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
Granddaddy toiled on with me at his elbow whenever I could escape to the laboratory with him.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Come January, El-Sayed could be in the Senate, toiling away on behalf of Michiganders as the nation’s first Muslim senator — and Capitol Hill’s resident zaddy.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
That’s what Francisco had done, toiling in Texas for a stint to afford a house back home large enough for his 12 children.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
Since last year, Japanese businesses have faced tougher legal requirements to help employees toiling in the heat.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
The soccer-mad northerner spent his early years in politics toiling under prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
“Honest, toiling Gurgi extends thanks and best wishes. Oh, yes, fond, obedient Gurgi will work hard...”
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
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