English Reference
Adjective

hardworking

adj.
A2 Elementary US /ˈhɑɹdˌwɝkɪŋ/ UK /hˈɑːdwɜːkɪŋ/ hard·work·ing

adj.putting a lot of effort and care into your work. You use this to describe someone who is not lazy and stays focused on their tasks.

adj.characterised by constant, diligent, and earnest effort in one's work or duties. Typically describes individuals or their habits; gradable in formal writing.


SIMPLE

She is a very hardworking student.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager promoted him because he is the most hardworking person on the team.

COMPLEX

Success in this competitive industry requires a hardworking attitude and the ability to remain productive under significant pressure.

Usage

Often modified by degree adverbs like 'very', 'extremely', or 'incredibly'.

Pitfall
he works very hardworkinghe works very hard

Learners often confuse the adjective 'hardworking' with the adverbial phrase 'work hard'.


From hard + working.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated