# industrious

/ˌɪnˈdəstɹiəs/ (US) · /ɪndˈʌstɹɪəs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/industrious
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- She is an industrious student who finishes all her work early.
- The industrious workers finished the entire project ahead of schedule despite the heavy rain.
- The region's economy has thrived for decades, driven by an industrious population that prioritises innovation and manual labor in equal measure.

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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.