Word
diligently
Phoneticsdili·gent·ly
US/ˈdɪɫədʒəntɫi/
UK/dˈɪlɪdʒəntli/
Definition
adv. doing something with great care and hard work. You use this when someone puts a lot of effort into a task to make sure it is done perfectly.
adv. characterised by persistent, painstaking effort and thoroughness. Typically modifies verbs related to work, study, or investigation.
Examples
“She works diligently to finish her projects on time.”
“The legal team worked diligently for months to review every document before the trial began.”
“By diligently documenting every minor observation in her field journal, the researcher was able to identify a pattern that previous teams had overlooked during their shorter stays.”
Examples
simple
“She works diligently to finish her projects on time.”
contextual
“The legal team worked diligently for months to review every document before the trial began.”
complex
“By diligently documenting every minor observation in her field journal, the researcher was able to identify a pattern that previous teams had overlooked during their shorter stays.”
Usage
Manner adverb — typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
He is a diligently worker
He is a diligent worker
Learners often use the adverb form 'diligently' to modify a noun, but the adjective 'diligent' is required for nouns.
Real-World Examples
“They are at least climbing the right ladder though, slowly, steadily, and diligently.” Etymology
From diligent + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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englishreference.com/q/diligently