industrious

American  

[in-duhs-tree-uhs] / ɪnˈdʌs tri əs /

adjective

1. working energetically and devotedly; hardworking; diligent.

   an industrious person.

   Synonyms:

   energetic, tireless, sedulous, persevering, assiduous

   Antonyms:

   indolent, lazy

2. Obsolete. skillful.

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industrious British  

/ ɪnˈdʌstrɪəs /

adjective

1. hard-working, diligent, or assiduous

2. an obsolete word for skilful

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Related Words

See busy.

Other Word Forms

• industriously adverb
• industriousness noun
• nonindustrious adjective
• nonindustriously adverb
• superindustrious adjective
• superindustriously adverb
• unindustrious adjective
• unindustriously adverb

Etymology

Origin of industrious

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French industrie “cleverness, skill,” from Old French industrie “contrivance, device,” from Latin industrius “diligent, assiduous”; equivalent to indo-, by-form of in- “in” ( in- ² ( def. ) + -struus, noun derivative of struere “to arrange, devise, build”

Example Sentences

He described his client as an "industrious and hard-working person who wants to make something of his life", and said he was "remorseful" for what happened.

From BBC

She was one of many authors he wrangled—alcoholic William Faulkner, neurotic Dr. Seuss, industrious James Michener, imperious Philip Roth.

From The Wall Street Journal

But you don’t have to be quite that industrious to pull this off.

From Salon

In other cases, the industrious gizmos recline in circulating baths of fluid, which ferries away the heat they generate, enabling them to function at very high speeds, known as "overclocking".

From BBC

It’s also true that Minnesota’s roughly 80,000-strong Somali community contains many industrious people and good citizens.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conscientious
• diligent
• energetic
• productive