adjective
industrious
ihn-DUHST-ree-uhs
Industrious (adjective) means working hard and steadily; diligent. Example: “The industrious student finished the project days ahead of schedule.”
adjective
1
Working hard and steadily; diligent.
"He was a very industrious student at school."
"The industrious student finished the project days ahead of schedule."
How to use industrious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHard-working and consistently productive.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "industrial," which describes factories and manufacturing, not a person's work ethic.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more industrious
- Superlative
- most industrious
Fill the gap
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The _____ student finished the project days ahead of schedule.
Etymology
From Middle French industrieux, from Late Latin industriosus ("diligent"), related to industria ("diligence").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for industrious
See all rhymes for industrious →Frequently asked questions
What does “industrious” mean?
The word “industrious” means working hard and steadily; diligent. In plain terms, hard-working and consistently productive.
How do you pronounce “industrious”?
“Industrious” is pronounced ihn-DUHST-ree-uhs (/ɪnˈdʌstɹi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “industrious” in a sentence?
Here is “industrious” used in a sentence: “The industrious student finished the project days ahead of schedule.”
What is the opposite of “industrious”?
The opposite of “industrious” — its antonyms — are lazy, absent-minded, changeable, distractible and fickle.
What part of speech is “industrious”?
“Industrious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “industrious” come from?
The word “industrious” comes from Late Latin. From Middle French industrieux, from Late Latin industriosus ("diligent"), related to industria ("diligence").
