Diligently
/ˈdɪlɪdʒəntli/
adverbB2adverb form
Definition
Diligently describes doing a task with strong care and effort. It means working hard, not giving up, and focusing carefully to do something well. People who work diligently do not rush or stop easily.
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⚡ See It in Action
With careful and steady effort to complete a task
- •She worked diligently on her homework every evening.
- •The scientist diligently recorded all the data during the experiment.
- •Employees who work diligently often get promotions.
Paying close attention to details while working
- •He checked the report diligently to avoid any mistakes.
- •The editor read the manuscript diligently to find errors.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "diligently" like "carefully," but with more effort and regular work over time
- ✓Picture a student studying every day with a focused face, not distracted, writing notes neatly
- ✓It's the feeling of pride when you finish a difficult project because you kept trying without giving up
- ✓Sounds like "DILL-ih-jent-ly" → imagine someone filling a jar with drops of water one by one, slowly but surely
- ✓Think of a gardener who waters plants every day, making sure each plant grows healthy and strong
- ✓NOT like "quickly" (fast but maybe careless), "diligently" means slow and careful work
- ✓NOT like "lazy" (no effort), "diligently" means active and hardworking
- ✓NOT like "randomly" (without order), "diligently" means planned and steady work
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Hard: working with strong effort (Use when focusing on effort but not necessarily on attention to detail)
- •Carefully: paying close attention (Use when focusing on avoiding mistakes)
- •Steadily: without stopping, regularly (Use when focusing on continuous work over time)
- •Attentively: with focus and attention (Use when focusing on watching or listening carefully)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "diligent" (adjective) + suffix "-ly" (makes adverb)
- •Etymology: From Latin "diligentia" meaning carefulness or attentiveness
- •Historical development: Entered English in the late 14th century, originally meaning careful and persistent effort
- •Modern usage: Used to describe how someone works or studies with steady, careful effort and attention
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when working diligently helped you achieve a goal? How did it feel?
•How is working diligently different from just working quickly or for a short time?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She completed her project diligently because she wanted to ___ every detail correctly.
2.To succeed in learning a language, you must study diligently and ___ regularly.
3.Unlike working quickly, working diligently means you do not ___ important steps.
4.When someone works diligently, they usually feel ___ about their progress.
5.He checked the answers diligently, ___ any mistakes before submitting the test.
6.People who work diligently often get recognized ___ their hard work and care.
7.If you do a task diligently, you are likely to ___ better results than if you rush.