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
Related Words
See busy.
Other Word Forms
- diligently adverb
- diligentness noun
- nondiligent adjective
- overdiligent adjective
- overdiligentness noun
- prediligent adjective
- undiligent adjective
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”); -ent
Compare meaning
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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.
After a short conversation, Clare had learned that the turtle spent his life as a beaver’s apprentice, and while he’d never been the fastest builder in the pond, he’d been the most diligent.
From Literature
Indexing presumes general market efficiency: The counterparty to an active seller is an active buyer; both are confident, well-staffed and diligent.
“I was wild and in the streets, not diligent in any way about anything, but I really loved it.”
From Los Angeles Times
There was no diligent retailer in the Philippines who realized they overcharged you for an eBay or Amazon purchase you had forgotten you made years ago, and miraculously wanted to make you whole.
From MarketWatch
In a report published last year the UK Covid Inquiry praised the former first minister as a "serious and diligent leader", but said she "often excluded" some government ministers and advisers from key discussions.
From BBC
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.
