Word
tedious
Phoneticste·dious
US/ˈtidiəs/
UK/tˈiːdɪəs/
Definition
adj. boring and lasting for a long time. You use this to describe tasks or situations that feel slow and tiring because they are repetitive.
adj. tiresome by reason of length, slowness, or dullness. Often describes repetitive manual or administrative tasks that lack variety.
Examples
“Checking every line of the report was a tedious job.”
“The commute became tedious after the third week of train delays and heavy traffic.”
“While the initial research was exciting, the subsequent data entry proved so tedious that the team struggled to maintain their focus over the long winter months.”
Examples
simple
“Checking every line of the report was a tedious job.”
contextual
“The commute became tedious after the third week of train delays and heavy traffic.”
complex
“While the initial research was exciting, the subsequent data entry proved so tedious that the team struggled to maintain their focus over the long winter months.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'become', 'find', or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“The launch show is often tedious – not much dancing and not much from the judges.” “There were some lovely efforts at the World Cup (not least by the co-hosts the USA ), and others more tedious than a 0-0 draw.” Etymology
English tedi(um) + -ous, from Old French tedieus, from Late Latin taediōsus, from Latin taedium (“weariness, tedium”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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