industrious

adjective

in·​dus·​tri·​ous in-ˈdə-strē-əs 

1

: constantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied : diligent

an industrious worker

2

obsolete : skillful, ingenious

industriously adverb

industriousness noun

Synonyms

• active
• assiduous
• bustling
• busy
• diligent
• employed
• engaged
• hopping
• laborious
• occupied
• sedulous
• tied-up
• working

Choose the Right Synonym for industrious

busy, industrious, diligent, assiduous, sedulous mean actively engaged or occupied.

busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application.

a sedulous investigation of the murder

Examples of industrious in a Sentence

He is an industrious worker.

an industrious worker who never seems to sleep

Recent Examples on the Web

Signs Of Infestation Why Carpenter Bees Drill Holes Preventing Infestation Sealing Holes Gardeners know pollinators are essential, especially those industrious bees buzzing tirelessly in and out of squash blossoms and trumpet vines. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 June 2025

Twenty-five years before Rabiot’s move to Juventus, another industrious French central midfielder had crossed the Alps to hone his trade during a five-year spell in Turin. —Tom Williams, New York Times, 9 June 2025

In one memorable scene, the industrious little girl wanders out of a laundromat while Lu is off looking for more dough, finding her way into an open house for a multimillion dollar brownstone nearby. —Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025

Together with ticks, these industrious rodents help spread a disease that affects hundreds of thousands every year. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for industrious

• illustrious

Kids Definition

industrious

adjective

in·​dus·​tri·​ous in-ˈdəs-trē-əs 

: constantly or regularly active or occupied

an industrious farmer

industriously adverb

industriousness noun