Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Showing or characterized by persistent attention or untiring application: synonym: diligent.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Constant in application; attentive; devoted: as, a person assiduous in his occupation; an assiduous physician or nurse.
  • Constant; unremitting: applied to actions.
  • Synonyms Sedulous, diligent, active, busy, constant, patient, persevering, laborious, unceasing, indefatigable, untiring. See assiduity.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Constant in application or attention; devoted; attentive; unremitting.
  • adjective Performed with constant diligence or attention; unremitting; persistent.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Hard-working, diligent or regular (in attendance or work); industrious.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective marked by care and persistent effort

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Latin assiduus, from assidēre, to attend to : ad-, ad- + sedēre, to sit; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin assiduus, from assidere ("to sit down to"), from ad- ("to") + sedere ("to sit").

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Examples

  • Fine, click on the Google "News" tab – and you will be directed to a page of links where the word assiduous appears in news stories.

    Are Dictionaries Becoming Obsolete? 2009

  • Andy Anson, 2018's chief executive, is described as assiduous about keeping the board informed.

    Football news, match reports and fixtures | guardian.co.uk 2009

  • Meanwhile the hottest debate in the local party is about the use of the word "assiduous" on our election leaflets.

    Local election blues 2004

  • a certain number of persons who are called assiduous, exact, fulfilling their strict duty most rigorously, or, what comes to the same thing, for ever in their shops, and carrying on their trade from morning until night, and doing nothing else in the world.

    Diderot and the Encyclopædists Volume II. John Morley 1880

  • The company is "assiduous" about hiring people who conform to the law, Ross said.

    Jihad Monitor 2010

  • In October 2005, my man at Scotland Yard told me in how Sir Ian, even after Sir Gus O'Donnell, the cabinet secretary, warned leading civil servants not to regard their memoirs as an intrinsic part of their gold-plated redundancy packages, had been "assiduous" about keeping a diary.

    Telegraph.co.uk: news business sport the Daily Telegraph newspaper Sunday Telegraph 2009

  • You have heard from your most talented wordsmiths, best raconteurs, and most assiduous participants.

    Home Stretch 2009

  • Janet is neither "the most assiduous student ... nor the most naturally gifted" (p. 121).

    The Magicians by Lev Grossman: Questions 2009

  • And when he is joined by Russell Barr as a Boswell who is a mixture of close companion, whipping-boy and assiduous note-taker, you feel you are eavesdropping on one of the great double-acts in literary history.

    A Dish of Tea With Dr Johnson – review 2011

  • You have heard from your most talented wordsmiths, best raconteurs, and most assiduous participants.

    Home Stretch 2009

Comments

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  • Citation on fungus garden.

    December 5, 2008

  • The assiduous merchant, the laborious husbandman, the active mechanic, and the industrious manufacturer - all orders of men look forward with eager expectation and growing alacrity to the pleasing reward of their toils.

    September 16, 2010

  • This word sounds like tiny waves taking over a beach.

    April 30, 2011

  • Really? I always thought it sounded like the taste of lemons.

    May 1, 2011