diligent
Americanadjective
-
constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything.
a diligent student.
- Synonyms:
- sedulous, assiduous, industrious
-
done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking.
a diligent search of the files.
- Synonyms:
- unremitting, tireless, indefatigable
adjective
-
careful and persevering in carrying out tasks or duties
-
carried out with care and perseverance
diligent work
Synonym Usage
See busy.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of diligent
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French or directly from Latin dīligent- (stem of dīligēns ), present participle of dīligere “to choose, like,” equivalent to dī- di- 2 + -ligere (combining form of legere “to choose, read”); see -ent
Compare meaning
How does diligent compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Someone who is diligent works hard and carefully. If you want to write the epic history of your family, you'll have to be very diligent in tracking down and interviewing all of your relatives. Diligent comes from the Latin diligere, which means "to value highly, take delight in," but in English it has always meant careful and hard-working. If you're a diligent worker, you don't just bang away at your job; you earnestly try to do everything right. Although being lucky and talented doesn't hurt, it's the diligent person who eventually succeeds.
Vocabulary lists containing diligent
100 Top "SAT" Words
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Grade 9, List 1
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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.
"Japan is often described as a country suffering from sleep deprivation, and people here are very diligent," Riichiro Nakama, creative director at organiser Koala Sleep Japan, the mattress company.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
I’m such a diligent user of Factiva, my employer’s news database tool, that its staff recently sought me out for my ideas about a coming upgrade, using—what else—artificial intelligence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
There are many budgeting rules of thumb designed to put diligent consumers in a solid financial position.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
“Our detectives are conducting a thorough and diligent investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,” Police Chief Max Subin said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
But I stay diligent, with my eyes narrowed on anything but him.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
