laboured
Britishadjective
-
(of breathing) performed with difficulty
-
showing effort; contrived; lacking grace or fluency
Other Word Forms
- labouredly adverb
- labouredness noun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Firefighters were trying to extinguish the blazes in the still-smoldering rubble, while rescue workers laboured to pull victims from the debris and bulldozers tried to clear a path.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
Instead, he laboured through it and failed to get the knockout most expected.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
Carney, an anglophone who grew up in western Canada, notably laboured to improve his French before running for prime minister last year, and his French ability was the subject of some scrutiny.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Against England at Pallekele last week, he laboured to 11 off 12 balls before being dismissed by Adil Rashid.
From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026
He was just settling himself to begin when the clock struck six, whereupon he laboured to get up, and said:—
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
