trooper
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who continues to work hard or stay positive even when things are difficult or they feel unwell.
n.a person who stoically endures adversity or continues to perform a task despite hardship. Often used as a figurative extension of the military sense.
Simple“Even though he had a bad cold, he was a real trooper and finished the project.”
In context“Despite the grueling schedule and the lack of resources, the lead researcher proved to be a real trooper, maintaining team morale until the deadline.”
PitfallShe was a real trouper during the long hike. She was a real trooper during the long hike.While 'trouper' refers to a reliable member of a theater group, 'trooper' is the standard spelling for someone showing physical or mental resilience, though the two are often confused.
SynonymsfighterstayerAntonymsquitter - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a soldier, especially one who is in a unit that uses tanks or horses.
n.a soldier of private rank in a cavalry or armored unit; more broadly, any member of a military troop.
Simple“The young trooper stood at attention as the commander walked past.”
In context“The regiment consisted of seasoned troopers who had served in armored divisions across multiple international deployments.”
Synonymssoldiercavalryman - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a member of a state police force, especially one who patrols highways.
n.a state police officer, typically one tasked with patrolling highways and enforcing traffic laws.
Simple“A state trooper pulled the car over for driving too fast on the highway.”
In context“The trooper requested the driver's license and registration before explaining the hazards of speeding in such heavy rain.”
Synonymshighway patrolmanofficer - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to keep working at a difficult or boring job without complaining.
v.to work steadily and stoically at an unpleasant or demanding task.
Simple“We just had to trooper on until the busy season was finally over.”
In context“The staff had to trooper through the weekend to ensure the software migration was completed before the Monday morning rush.”
Usageoften used with 'on' as in 'to trooper on'
Synonymsplodsoldier on
“After a few hours, nine organizers, including Walker, were arrested by state troopers.”
From troop + -er, from French troupe. The sense of “one who endures adversity” comes from trouper (“member of an acting troupe”) but through assimilation with the sense of “soldier” has come to be usually spelled “trooper”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.