adjective
industrious
in-DUHS-tree-uhs/ɪnˈdʌstriəs/
Working hard and steadily.
The industrious craftsperson steadily repairs the waiting shoes.
Etymology
Industria referred to diligence and sustained effort. Industrious preserves that personal-quality sense, describing someone whose work is marked by energy, effort, and steady attention.
In context
If you were old and destitute, perhaps you had failed to save, failed to work hard enough, failed to be sufficiently industrious.
More examples
- An industrious crew finished the repairs ahead of schedule.
- She admired his industrious approach to an unglamorous task.
- The workshop stayed busy under its industrious owner.
Forms
industrious · more industrious · most industrious
industry noun — steady productive effort
Similar words
- diligent
- Diligent is careful and persistent; industrious emphasizes steady hard work and productivity.
- hardworking
- Hardworking is the ordinary equivalent; industrious often suggests consistent busy application.