toil
toyl
Toil (noun) means Hard, exhausting work. Example: “Years of toil in the fields had left his hands rough and calloused.”
noun
1
Hard, exhausting work.
"Years of toil in the fields had left his hands rough and calloused."
"After months of toil, the small business finally turned a profit."
verb
1
To work long and hard, often at something difficult or tedious.
"She toiled late into the night to finish the report."
"They toiled for years before the invention finally worked."
How to use toil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWorking very hard, usually over a long period, especially at something tiring or difficult.
When to use it
Somewhat literary or formal; everyday speech usually just says "work hard" instead.
Common pairings
toil and trouble
toil away
years of toil
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Word forms
- Plural
- toils
- Third person singular
- toils
- Past tense
- toiled
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Years of _____ in the fields had left his hands rough and calloused.
Etymology
From Middle English "toilen," blending an Anglo-Norman word meaning "to agitate or entangle" with an Old English word meaning "to labour or strive."
Related words
Rhymes for toil
See all rhymes for toil →Frequently asked questions
What does “toil” mean?
The word “toil” means hard, exhausting work. In plain terms, working very hard, usually over a long period, especially at something tiring or difficult.
How do you pronounce “toil”?
“Toil” is pronounced toyl (/tɔɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “toil” in a sentence?
Here is “toil” used in a sentence: “Years of toil in the fields had left his hands rough and calloused.”
What part of speech is “toil”?
Depending on how it is used, “toil” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “toil” come from?
The word “toil” comes from Old English. From Middle English "toilen," blending an Anglo-Norman word meaning "to agitate or entangle" with an Old English word meaning "to labour or strive.".
How many meanings does “toil” have?
“Toil” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: hard, exhausting work.
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