# diligent

/ˈdɪɫɪdʒənt/ (US) · /dˈɪlɪdʒənt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

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

## Definition

working hard and being very careful to do things correctly. You are diligent when you put a lot of effort into your tasks and don't rush them.

For teachers: characterised by steady, earnest, and energetic effort in a task or duty. Often used to describe professional or academic conduct.

## Examples

- She is a diligent student who always finishes her homework early.
- The lawyer was diligent in checking every document for errors before the trial began.
- Through diligent research and careful cross-referencing of historical archives, the biographer uncovered several previously unknown facts about the author's early life.

## Usage notes

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

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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.