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.
Montreal’s mascot was Amik, the industrious Canadian beaver.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026
He was industrious his entire life, eventually starting the fast-food chain known today as Chick-fil-A.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
Having written or co-written six of the album’s songs, Burnett has proven himself to be one of Starr’s most able and industrious collaborators.
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026
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 ● Feb. 18, 2026
The words in the book were tiny, and they marched across the page like overly industrious ants.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
