# arduous

/ˈɑɹdʒuəs/ (US) · /ˈɑːdjuːəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arduous
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.