First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1toil
noun \ˈtȯi(-ə)l\
Definition of TOIL
2
: long strenuous fatiguing labor
— toil·ful \-fəl\ adjective
— toil·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb
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Origin of TOIL
Middle English toile, from Anglo-French toyl, from toiller
Synonym Discussion of TOIL
work, labor, travail, toil, drudgery, grind mean activity involving effort or exertion. work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force <too tired to do any work>. labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion <farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor>. travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering <years of travail were lost when the house burned>. toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor <his lot would be years of back-breaking toil>. drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor <an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery>. grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body <the grind of the assembly line>.
work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not <her work as a hospital volunteer>. employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer <your employment with this firm is hereby terminated>. occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training <his occupation as a trained auto mechanic>. calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession <the ministry seemed my true calling>. pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest <her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit>. métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted <acting was my one and only métier>. business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs <the business of managing a hotel>.
work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not <her work as a hospital volunteer>. employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer <your employment with this firm is hereby terminated>. occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training <his occupation as a trained auto mechanic>. calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession <the ministry seemed my true calling>. pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest <her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit>. métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted <acting was my one and only métier>. business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs <the business of managing a hotel>.
2toil
verb
: to work very hard for a long time
: to move slowly and with a lot of effort
Full Definition of TOIL
intransitive verb
1
: to work hard and long
2
: to proceed with laborious effort : plod
transitive verb
1
archaic : overwork
2
archaic : to get or accomplish with great effort
— toil·er \ˈtȯi-lər\ noun
See toil defined for English-language learners
Origin of TOIL
Middle English, to argue, struggle, from Anglo-French toiller to make dirty, fight, wrangle, from Latin tudiculare to crush, grind, from tudicula machine for crushing olives, diminutive of tudes hammer; akin to Latin tundere to beat — more at contusion
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to TOIL
3toil
noun
Definition of TOIL
1
: a net to trap game
2
Origin of TOIL
Middle French toile cloth, net, from Old French teile, Latin tela cloth on a loom — more at subtle
First Known Use: circa 1529
TOILFULLY Defined for Kids
1toil
noun \ˈtȯil\
Definition of TOIL for Kids
: long hard labor
2toil
verb
toiledtoil·ing
Definition of TOIL for Kids
1
: to work hard and long
2
: to go on with effort <They were toiling up a steep hill.>
Learn More About TOIL
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