diligent

American  

[dil-i-juhnt] / ˈdɪl ɪ dʒənt /

adjective

1. constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything.

   a diligent student.

   Synonyms:

   sedulous, assiduous, industrious

2. done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking.

   a diligent search of the files.

   Synonyms:

   unremitting, tireless, indefatigable

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diligent British  

/ ˈdɪlɪdʒənt /

adjective

1. careful and persevering in carrying out tasks or duties

2. carried out with care and perseverance

   diligent work

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Related Words

See busy.

Other Word Forms

• diligently adverb
• diligentness noun
• nondiligent adjective
• overdiligent adjective
• overdiligentness noun
• prediligent adjective
• undiligent adjective

Etymology

Origin of diligent

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French or directly from Latin dīligent- (stem of dīligēns ), present participle of dīligere “to choose, like,” equivalent to dī- di- ² + -ligere (combining form of legere “to choose, read”); -ent

Compare meaning

How does diligent compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• diligent vs. vigilant

Explanation

Someone who is diligent works hard and carefully. If you want to write the epic history of your family, you'll have to be very diligent in tracking down and interviewing all of your relatives. Diligent comes from the Latin diligere, which means "to value highly, take delight in," but in English it has always meant careful and hard-working. If you're a diligent worker, you don't just bang away at your job; you earnestly try to do everything right. Although being lucky and talented doesn't hurt, it's the diligent person who eventually succeeds.

Example Sentences

Indexing presumes general market efficiency: The counterparty to an active seller is an active buyer; both are confident, well-staffed and diligent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

There was no diligent retailer in the Philippines who realized they overcharged you for an eBay or Amazon purchase you had forgotten you made years ago, and miraculously wanted to make you whole.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

She was particularly diligent about checking for accuracy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

"I am a diligent recycler, I really try. But we've noticed that actually they seem to bung it all in the same van," she says.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

All of us were giving diligent attention to our powdered potatoes.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• active
• assiduous
• attentive
• careful
• conscientious
• eager
• earnest
• indefatigable
• industrious
• painstaking
• persistent
• studious
• tireless