Industrious: Definition, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：hardworking (industrious)

industrious 🔊

/ɪnˈdʌstriəs/

adj.

Describing someone who works very hard and steadily.

Industrious definition illustrated by a student diligently writing notes late at night in a cozy study.

hardworking 🔊

➕

/ˌhɑːrdˈwɜːrkɪŋ/

adj.

Describing a person who is consistently and earnestly engaged in work or duties.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'industrius' (diligent) + suffix '-ous', meaning 'full of diligence'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'industry' for hard work, plus '-ous' meaning full of, so industrious means full of hard work.

📖 Example

My neighbor is the most industrious person I know; he tends his garden every morning before sunrise and then goes to his full-time job. 🔊 This example shows a neighbor who is extremely hardworking, diligently tending his garden early and working a full-time job.

🔗 Collocations

industrious worker – a worker who is very hardworking

industrious efforts – persistent and diligent efforts

industrious student – a student who studies diligently

🔄 Synonyms

diligent (adj.) – Showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.

assiduous (adj.) – Showing great care and perseverance.

hardworking (adj.) – Tending to work with energy and commitment.

🚫 Antonyms

lazy (adj.) – Unwilling to work or use energy.

idle (adj.) – Avoiding work; not active or in use.

🌱 Derivatives

industriously (adv.) – In a hardworking and diligent manner.

industriousness (n.) – The quality of being hardworking and diligent.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'industrius', meaning diligent. In modern English, it often describes individuals who are consistently hardworking, especially in professional or academic contexts.