diligent

[dil-i-juhnt]

See more synonyms for diligent on Thesaurus.com

adjective

constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything: a diligent student.
done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking: a diligent search of the files.

Origin of diligent

1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < 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

Related formsdil·i·gent·ly, adverbdil·i·gent·ness, nounnon·dil·i·gent, adjectivenon·dil·i·gent·ly, adverbo·ver·dil·i·gent, adjectiveo·ver·dil·i·gent·ly, adverbo·ver·dil·i·gent·ness, nounpre·dil·i·gent, adjectivepre·dil·i·gent·ly, adverbun·dil·i·gent, adjectiveun·dil·i·gent·ly, adverb

Synonyms for diligent

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1. industrious, assiduous, sedulous. 2. indefatigable, untiring, tireless, unremitting.

Synonym study

1. See busy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for diligently

vigorously, nimbly, eagerly, hastily, carefully, earnestly, energetically, laboriously, diligently, painstakingly, enthusiastically, restlessly, ardently, hurriedly, purposefully, assiduously, closely, briskly, industriously, seriously

Examples from the Web for diligently

Contemporary Examples of diligently

All the while, Lurie was diligently, but privately making paintings.
The Gods of Punk Are Back in New York City
Anthony Haden-Guest
September 27, 2014
They perform as God made them to, diligently pumping out future patriots at 13-month intervals.
Getting to Know the ‘Beyoncé Voter’
Kelly Williams Brown
July 7, 2014
The old-guard journalists who dismiss her as a blogueuse have no idea how diligently Riahi trained herself as a journalist.
A Woman Blogger’s Scoop Helped Save Tunisia From Islamists
Thomas A. Bass
April 6, 2014
The Republicans all waited to eat their cheesecake while diligently devouring their greens.
Comedy of Errors at the Republicans’ March on Washington Celebration
Ben Jacobs
August 27, 2013
The truth is, Ram Singh was too loathed a man for answers to be diligently sought.
Cheated by Death: No Euphoria in Ram Singh’s Hanging
Dilip D’Souza
March 12, 2013

Historical Examples of diligently

The door opened; but he seemed to take no heed, so diligently did he count his figures.
Fair Margaret
H. Rider Haggard
There he plied his tasks so diligently that he excelled all in book-learning.
Welsh Fairy Tales
William Elliott Griffis
No bugle had sounded, yet the whole camp was softly and diligently astir.
The Cavalier
George Washington Cable
He won his spurs by perseverance, knowledge, and ability, diligently cultivated.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
That he will serve me diligently and faithfully I have no doubt.
Vivian Grey
Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli

British Dictionary definitions for diligently

diligent

adjective

careful and persevering in carrying out tasks or duties
carried out with care and perseverancediligent work

Derived Formsdiligently, adverb

Word Origin for diligent

C14: from Old French, from Latin dīligere to value, from dis- apart + legere to read

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for diligently

diligent

adj.

mid-14c., from Old French diligent (14c.), from Latin diligentem "attentive, assiduous" (see diligence). Related: Diligently.