Word
toiling
Phoneticstoil·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɔɪɫɪŋ/
UK/tˈɔɪlɪŋ/
Definition
v. to work very hard for a long time, often doing tiring physical work. You use it when the work feels slow and exhausting.
v. to labour continuously with great effort, especially at physically demanding or monotonous work. Often implies prolonged exertion under difficult or oppressive conditions.
Examples
“They are toiling in the hot sun all day.”
“The farmers are toiling in the fields to finish the harvest before the rain starts.”
“For years she had been toiling behind the scenes, editing manuscripts late into the night while others took the credit for the finished books.”
Examples
simple
“They are toiling in the hot sun all day.”
contextual
“The farmers are toiling in the fields to finish the harvest before the rain starts.”
complex
“For years she had been toiling behind the scenes, editing manuscripts late into the night while others took the credit for the finished books.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “toiling” in context.
Verb
01. farmers toil
“Farmers toiled in the fields throughout the harvest season.”
noun + verb
02. find toiling
“We found the old man toiling in his small vegetable garden.”
verb + verb
03. keep toiling
“Even when exhausted, they kept toiling until the job was done.”
verb + verb
04. miners toil
“Miners toiled deep underground in dangerous conditions.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. toil endlessly
“The farmers toiled endlessly to save their crops from the drought.”
verb + adverb
06. toil hard
“My grandparents toiled hard to build a better life for the family.”
verb + adverb
07. toil tirelessly
“The rescue team toiled tirelessly to reach survivors after the earthquake.”
verb + adverb
Noun
08. hours of toiling
“After hours of toiling in the kitchen, dinner was finally ready.”
noun + prep + noun
09. after years of toiling
“After years of toiling, she finally bought her own house.”
10. toil away in the fields
“They toiled away in the fields from sunrise to sunset.”
11. toil from dawn till dusk
“The labourers toiled from dawn till dusk to finish the road.”
12. toil through the night
“Nurses toiled through the night to care for patients.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and often pairs with 'away', 'over', or 'in' to show continued effort.
Real-World Examples
“Two local historians from South Ayrshire have toiled for 10 years to give 31 fallen French sailors a fitting memorial.” - 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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