Word
arduous
Phoneticsar·du·ous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑɹdʒuəs/
UK/ˈɑːdjuːəs/
Definition
adj. describing a task that is very difficult and takes a lot of effort over a long time. It often makes you feel physically or mentally tired.
adj. requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring. Often used to describe physical journeys or complex mental processes that demand sustained energy.
Examples
“The hikers began their arduous climb up the mountain.”
“After an arduous three-year investigation, the committee finally released its report on the financial scandal.”
“The transition from a command economy to a market-based system proved to be an arduous process, fraught with social upheaval and unexpected economic setbacks.”
Examples
simple
“The hikers began their arduous climb up the mountain.”
contextual
“After an arduous three-year investigation, the committee finally released its report on the financial scandal.”
complex
“The transition from a command economy to a market-based system proved to be an arduous process, fraught with social upheaval and unexpected economic setbacks.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“Her husband, Yuk Yuk’s co-founder Mark Breslin, has needed to use a cane lately, and when there’s no nearby parking, just getting into a local business can be arduous, she said.” “Although the country is beginning to turn to the long-term consequences of the disaster, emergency responders continue the arduous labour of digging through the rubble.” Etymology
From Latin arduus (“lofty, high, steep, hard to reach, difficult, laborious”), akin to Irish ard (“high”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/arduous