Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 3, 2024 is: diligent \DIL-uh-junt\ adjective

Someone or something described as diligent is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.

// After many hours of diligent research, the students were ready to compile their results.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diligent)

Examples:

“Scott had a reputation for being diligent and hardworking, maybe a tad arrogant, but not the type to make rousing speeches in the locker room at halftime.” — Robert Samuels, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023

Did you know?

You’re more likely to be diligent about something if you love doing it. The etymology of diligent reflects the fact that devotion can lead to energetic effort. The word, which entered English in the 14th century by way of Anglo-French, comes from the Latin verb diligere, meaning “to value or esteem highly” or “to love.” Diligere was formed by combining the di- prefix (from dis-, meaning “apart”) with the verb legere, meaning “to gather, select” or “to read.” Legere has itself proved to be a diligent contributor to English; its offspring include [collect](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collect), [lecture](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lecture), [legend](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legend), [intelligent](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligent), and [legume](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legume).