industrious

adjective

in·​dus·​tri·​ous in-ˈdə-strē-əs How to pronounce industrious (audio)
1
: constantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied : diligent
an industrious worker
2
obsolete : skillful, ingenious
industriously adverb
industriousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for industrious

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

Examples of industrious in a Sentence

He is an industrious worker. an industrious worker who never seems to sleep
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Edward’s parenting was particularly industrious, requiring his children to paint their own rooms, make their own clothes and earn extra cash by trapping and skinning muskrats to sell their pelts. Emily Blackwood, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024 Neither veteran defenseman Cam Fowler nor power forward Mason McTavish played Sunday, and both were missing from Tuesday’s practice, as was industrious winger Robby Fabbri. Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 12 Nov. 2024 Melania Trump also wasn’t known to be the most industrious of first ladies, according to Rogers. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 In just eight years, Rasca has opened three additional sites: In a restored church in Mayfair, on the industrious docklands of Wood Wharf, and most recently, in an unused car park in Ilford. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for industrious 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of industrious was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near industrious

Cite this Entry

“Industrious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/industrious. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

industrious

adjective
in·​dus·​tri·​ous in-ˈdəs-trē-əs How to pronounce industrious (audio)
: constantly or regularly active or occupied
an industrious farmer
industriously adverb
industriousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on industrious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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