industrious

adjective

in·​dus·​tri·​ous in-ˈdə-strē-əs 

1

: constantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied : diligent

an industrious worker

2

obsolete : skillful, ingenious

industriously adverb

industriousness noun

Synonyms

• active
• assiduous
• bustling
• busy
• diligent
• employed
• engaged
• hopping
• laborious
• occupied
• sedulous
• tied-up
• working

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

State of play: Governments, organizations and industrious neighbors are working to provide immediate relief to storm survivors, while federal emergency officials and local nonprofits are setting up for longer-term aid. —Kathryn Varn, Axios, 30 Sep. 2024

From iconic street foods to the cutting edge of gastronomy, the culinary landscape of Chicago is a tapestry of the city’s innovative spirit, tumultuous history and industrious immigrant communities. —Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2024

His people were Southern farmers, moody, contemplative, industrious, colored. —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024

And this is where the industrious beavers come into play. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

industrious

adjective

in·​dus·​tri·​ous in-ˈdəs-trē-əs 

: constantly or regularly active or occupied

an industrious farmer

industriously adverb

industriousness noun