Meaning & Definition
noun
hard and continuous work; exhausting labor.
After years of toil, she finally achieved her dream.
a painful or laborious effort.
The toil of the workers was evident in the quality of their craftsmanship.
verb
to work extremely hard and continuously.
He toiled in the fields from dawn until dusk.
to work hard in a physically demanding or exhausting way.
The crew toiled to finish the construction before the deadline.
to make one's way with difficulty.
She toiled up the hill, breathing heavily.
Etymology
Middle English, from Old French 'toille', of uncertain origin.
Common Phrases and Expressions
toil and trouble:
A phrase indicating hard work, often associated with problems or difficulties.
toil away:
To work persistently on a task or project.
toil for a living:
To work hard enough to earn a livelihood.
Slang Meanings
Hustle
He's been hustling all week to get that project done.
Grind
I'm on the grind every day to make my dreams come true.