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diligent

adjective
dil·​i·​gent | \ ˈdi-lÉ™-jÉ™nt How to pronounce diligent (audio) \

Definition of diligent

: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking a diligent worker
Other Words from diligent Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about diligent

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Other Words from diligent

diligently adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for diligent

busy, industrious, diligent, assiduous, sedulous mean actively engaged or occupied. busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure. too busy to spend time with the children industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work. industrious employees diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit. very diligent in her pursuit of a degree assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application. assiduous practice sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application. a sedulous investigation of the murder

Did You Know?

You're more likely to be diligent about something if you love doing it. The etymology of diligent reflects the fact that affection can lead to energetic effort. The word, which entered English in the 14th century by way of Anglo-French, descends from the Latin verb diligere, meaning "to value or esteem highly" or "to love." Of course, you don’t need to care for the task at hand in order to be diligent, but it certainly does help!

Examples of diligent in a Sentence

The American intelligence community's single greatest failing is its lack of good "humint"—human intelligence, the dirty, diligent, shoe-leather penetration of terror networks. — Johanna McGeary, Time, 15 Oct. 2001 Like any diligent foreign correspondent, he attends the briefings and collects face time with the officials, but he knows it's the citizens (the upstanding as well as the jailers, the whores, the black marketeers and the smugglers) who tell the truth … — Rolling Stone, 19 Sept. 1996 He was a fourth-year drama student at UCLA and diligent about such valuable actorly exercises as eavesdropping, spying, and telling complicated lies to fellow passengers on airplanes. — Michael Chabon, A Model World and Other Stories, 1991 In spite of diligent work as editor, hack writer, sea captain, and assorted other trades, he wound up poor. — Monroe K. Spears, American Ambitions, 1987 a student who has been unceasingly diligent in pursuit of a degree in mathematics
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Recent Examples on the Web

 In the cold months, Sheffler said Mackinac officials are diligent about keeping the streets cleans to ensure proper deliver. — Dixita Limbachia, Detroit Free Press, "How Amazon packages get delivered to Mackinac Island residents," 13 Aug. 2019 In addition to exercising multiple times a week, Mo’Nique is also diligent about healthy eating. — Jasmine Grant, Essence, "Mo'Nique Gets Emotional After Hitting This Fitness Milestone," 7 Aug. 2019 In the time since, Burton has been not only a diligent keeper of the McQueen flame but also an enhancer of it. — Vogue, "The Women Designers Who Changed The Way We Dress," 14 Aug. 2019 He's remained humble, he's remained diligent in his work ethic, and really handled his business. — Bob Mcmanaman, azcentral, "Cardinals rookie Kyler Murray looked calm and in total command against Chargers," 9 Aug. 2019 View Sample Sign Up Now Backstory Plenty of history podcasts are made by curious, diligent lay-people. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, "The Best History Podcasts to Listen to Right Now," 31 July 2019 Kipling, who believed in imperial duty, preferred the diligent beavers. — The Economist, "Rudyard Kipling and the American imagination," 25 July 2019 Likewise, Escobedo’s attorney, John Ritenour, said jurors were diligent. — ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio jury convicts pair in Mexican Mafia organized crime case," 2 July 2019 Two retrospectives at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art demonstrate the relationship between two different but equally diligent photographers of the streets. — The New York Review of Books, "Carole Naggar," 25 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diligent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of diligent

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for diligent

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin diligent-, diligens, from present participle of diligere to esteem, love, from di- (from dis- apart) + legere to select — more at legend

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More Definitions for diligent

diligent

adjective
dil·​i·​gent | \ ˈdi-lÉ™-jÉ™nt How to pronounce diligent (audio) \

Kids Definition of diligent

: showing steady and earnest care and hard work a diligent search

Other Words from diligent

diligently adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on diligent

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for diligent

Spanish Central: Translation of diligent

Nglish: Translation of diligent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of diligent for Arabic Speakers

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