toil
/tɔɪl/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɔɪl] /tɔɪl/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɔɪl] /ˈtȯi(-ə)l/ (ame, mw)
toil — noun
1. long, demanding work that leaves the body feeling worn out.
long, demanding work that leaves the body feeling worn out.
After ten hours of farm toil, Rodrigo could barely lift his boots.
pattern: hours of toil
The bridge was built through years of dangerous underground toil.
pattern: years of toil
Daily household toil left Saira too tired to read at night.
Generations of factory toil damaged many workers' backs and knees.
文法句型
hours of toil
years of toil
manual toil
用法筆記
Usually uncountable and often chosen when the work feels exhausting, repetitive, or joyless. It sounds stronger and more negative than the neutral noun 'work'.
常見錯誤
toil — verb
- toilpresent simple I / you / we / they
- toilshe / she / it
- toiledpast simple
- toiling-ing form
1. to keep doing difficult work hour after hour, often until you feel worn out.
to keep doing difficult work hour after hour, often until you feel worn out.
Vivek toiled in the rice field from sunrise to noon.
pattern: toil in + place
During exam week, Christopher toiled over pages of chemistry notes.
pattern: toil over + task
Two mechanics toiled all night to fix the broken ferry engine.
Soraya toiled away in the bakery while the town was still dark.
- labor
the closest neutral equivalent, especially in formal writing.
- slog
more informal and stresses unpleasant effort.
- grind away
informal and often suggests repetitive, exhausting work.
文法句型
toil in + place
toil over + task
toil away
用法筆記
Often appears with place, time, or task phrases such as 'in the fields', 'all night', or 'over a report'. Distinguish from verb sense 2: this sense is about working hard, not about slow movement toward a place.
常見錯誤
2. to go somewhere very slowly while pushing through weight, pain, mud, or another
to go somewhere very slowly while pushing through weight, pain, mud, or another difficulty.
The hikers toiled up the last icy slope before sunset.
pattern: toil up + slope
Exhausted runners toiled across the muddy field toward the finish line.
Rescuers toiled through deep snow to reach the village.
The old truck toiled along the mountain road with a full load.
文法句型
toil up + slope
toil through + obstacle
toil along/toward + place
用法筆記
Usually followed by a direction or path phrase such as 'up the hill', 'through snow', or 'along the road'. Distinguish from verb sense 1: here the subject is making slow, difficult progress toward somewhere.