definitions

diligent

[ dil-i-juhnt ]
/ ˈdɪl ɪ dʒənt /
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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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

dilettante, dilettantism, dilf, dili, diligence, diligent, diligently, dill, dill pickle, dillard, dilli

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 forms

Synonym study

1. See busy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for diligently

British Dictionary definitions for diligently

diligent

/ (ˈdɪlɪdʒənt) /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

diligently, 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