ENGLISH
REFERENCE

industrious

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪnˈdəstɹiəs// UK //ɪndˈʌstɹɪəs// in·dus·tri·ous

adj. working hard and being very productive. You use this to describe someone who is always busy and gets a lot done.

adj. characterised by hard work and productivity; diligent. Often used to describe a person's work ethic or a society's economic output.


SIMPLE

She is an industrious student who finishes all her work early.

CONTEXTUAL

The industrious workers finished the entire project ahead of schedule despite the heavy rain.

COMPLEX

The region's economy has thrived for decades, driven by an industrious population that prioritises innovation and manual labor in equal measure.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French industrieux, from Late Latin industriosus (“diligent, active, industrious”), from Latin industria (“diligence, industry”); see industry.

© 2026 English Reference