Definition of diligent
: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking a diligent worker
diligently
adverbExplore Merriam-Webster
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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
Recent Examples of diligent from the Web
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Even the most diligent homeowners don’t always know how to recognize signs that a home more than an annual treatment.
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I'm inspired by the diligent works and talents of the people involved in these festivals.
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TD Garden is working with state and local law enforcement to enhance our already diligent security measures and continue to provide a safe environment at all our events.
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Gimenez has been diligent in following the team's disciplined workout regimen, a development not lost on manager Greg Tagert.
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The ’80s almost slipped back into being last month, but diligent middle managers caught the incipient renascence of the Me Decade just in time to strangle it in its FAO Schwartz crib.
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.
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!
Origin and Etymology of 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
Synonym Discussion of diligent
DILIGENT Defined for Kids
diligent
playDefinition of diligent for Students
: showing steady and earnest care and hard work a diligent search
diligently
adverbLearn More about diligent
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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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