industrious
Americanadjective
-
working energetically and devotedly; hardworking; diligent.
an industrious person.
- Synonyms:
- energetic, tireless, sedulous, persevering, assiduous
-
Obsolete. skillful.
adjective
-
hard-working, diligent, or assiduous
-
an obsolete word for skilful
Synonym Usage
See busy.
Other Word Forms
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” ( see in- 2 ( def. ) + -struus, noun derivative of struere “to arrange, devise, build”
Explanation
If someone comments that you are very industrious, they are complimenting you for working hard and tirelessly. You can have the evening to yourself if you're industrious enough during the afternoon to get your homework and chores done. The word industrious is closely related to the word industry, used for both the quality of being hardworking, “He is a model of industry,” as well as a field of business, "the construction industry." It might help to remember the Industrial Revolution, the time when machinery was introduced to the manufacturing world. If you're industrious, you work as hard as machines do!
Vocabulary lists containing industrious
Labor Day Lexicon: Words That Put You To Work
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Positive Words to Describe a Person
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Grade 9, List 5
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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.
Again they thrived, their energy for a fight serving to make them industrious.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
In the industrious south, automation is reshaping factories and supply chains, and megacities like Chongqing have become the stuff of influencers' feeds.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
The industrious attacking midfielder has become an integral part of Barcelona's squad since making his debut in the 2023/24 season, making 113 appearances and scoring 29 goals.
From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026
But you don’t have to be quite that industrious to pull this off.
From Salon • Dec. 23, 2025
They naturally took comfort in each other’s society and were much together, riding, walking, dancing, or dawdling, for at Nice no one can be very industrious during the gay season.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
