diligent
DIH-lihd-zhuhnt
Diligent (adjective) means working with steady, careful effort; hard-working and thorough. Example: “She’s a diligent student who never misses an assignment.”
adjective
1
Working with steady, careful effort; hard-working and thorough.
"She’s a diligent student who never misses an assignment."
"The diligent researcher double-checked every source."
How to use diligent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHard-working, careful, and thorough in what you do.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
diligent worker
diligent effort
diligent student
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more diligent
- Superlative
- most diligent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She’s a _____ student who never misses an assignment.
Etymology
From Old French diligent, from Latin diligens, "careful, attentive" — literally "choosing carefully," from legere, "to choose."
Synonyms
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persevering
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for diligent
See all rhymes for diligent →Frequently asked questions
What does “diligent” mean?
The word “diligent” means working with steady, careful effort; hard-working and thorough. In plain terms, hard-working, careful, and thorough in what you do.
How do you pronounce “diligent”?
“Diligent” is pronounced DIH-lihd-zhuhnt (/ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “diligent” in a sentence?
Here is “diligent” used in a sentence: “She’s a diligent student who never misses an assignment.”
What part of speech is “diligent”?
“Diligent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “diligent” come from?
The word “diligent” comes from Latin. From Old French diligent, from Latin diligens, "careful, attentive" — literally "choosing carefully," from legere, "to choose.".
Is “diligent” a common word?
“Diligent” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
