hardworking

adjective

hard·​work·​ing ˈhärd-ˈwər-kiŋ How to pronounce hardworking (audio)
Synonyms of hardworking
: constantly, regularly, or habitually engaged in earnest and energetic work : industrious, diligent
a hardworking young woman
"Our students have to be very hardworking and committed. They put in long hours. …"—Beth Farbotnik

Examples of hardworking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dickies has earned its reputation for more than a century by making dependable products for hardworking people. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026 As crews worked on the ground, a hardworking white sheepdog sprang into action, herding a nearby group of goats away from the landing area and helping keep the helicopter's path clear. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The whole point of curating a capsule is to mitigate the cycle of clothing fatigue and overspending and instead lean into versatile, hardworking pieces that complement your lifestyle—so take these as suggestions, not mandates. — India Roby, Glamour, 28 July 2026 The hardworking mother of three daughters called Los Angeles home and collected much of the material for her work from the city’s many flea markets and second hand shops. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hardworking

Word History

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hardworking was in 1685

Rhymes for hardworking

See All Rhymes for hardworking

Browse Nearby Words

hard-wooded
hardworking
hardy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hardworking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardworking. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

hardworking

adjective
hard·​work·​ing -ˈwər-kiŋ How to pronounce hardworking (audio)
: industrious, diligent

More from Merriam-Webster on hardworking

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hardworking

Nglish: Translation of hardworking for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All