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to labor

to labor

26 2.7
To work hard on difficult physical tasks
  • verb
  • /ˈleɪbər/
  • US
translation icon : trabajar
  • My parents loved the garden and would labor all summer to keep it lush.
  • labor on behalf of

The slave is set to labor on the independent world.

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Examples

  • Far away from us, in Galilee, in the valleys, was the laboring Land of Israel.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • I shall labor over every word, every sound.

  • I still have to labour to mix the paint and match the colour.

  • But if you labor to carve that wood into a chair you will increase its value.

  • Mr. Cake worked on his clock, laboring to finish.

  • The groundcar slowed again and began climbing a steep incline, its engines laboring from the strain.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • During the summer, I often labor in the garden, pulling weeds and planting flowers.

  • He had to labor through the tough landscape, moving heavy rocks to clear the path.

  • It is rewarding to labor over a project and see the final results after all your effort.

Synonyms

to work
vsto labor
1.0

To move forward slowly while making steady progress

is strong effort that may be immediate or intense rather than gradual
to struggle
vsto labor
851 2.8

To try very hard to do or deal with something difficult

is strong effort in general, not limited to overcoming obstacles
to push
vsto labor
731 1.5

To try hard to achieve something, especially against difficulty

is general strong effort, not focused on a single determined drive
to work at
vsto labor
489 2.3

To try hard to get better at or finish something over time

is strong effort that can be intense rather than merely ongoing
to grind
vsto labor
60 3.7

To work hard for a long time at a dull or repeated task

is general strong effort, not only steady or monotonous action
to slave
vsto labor
47 5.3

To work very hard for a long time with little rest or reward

means strong effort but not the unfair long servitude aspect
to toil
vsto labor
35 5.3

To work very hard for a long time

is a more general strong effort, not always prolonged suffering
to dig
vsto labor
23 2.6

To work hard at a task for a long time

is strong effort but can include single or varied efforts
to tug
vsto labor
22 3.3

To work very hard to reach a goal

is general strong effort including less forceful attempts
to work like a dog
vsto labor
  • Informal
8 3.4

Spend a lot of time doing hard, tiring tasks

covers strong effort generally, not the tireless, harsh conditions
to slog
vsto labor
5 6.7

To work hard for a long time on a task that is difficult or tiring

is strong effort that may be shorter or less steady
to drudge
vsto labor
1 7.0

To work hard at boring, repetitive tasks for a long time

is general hard effort, not focused on boring or low status tasks
to work like a horse
vsto labor
  • Informal
1 3.6

To use a lot of energy to do a hard job for a long time

is broader strong effort, not focused only on high energy exertion
to moil
vsto labor
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To work very hard, often at a physical or long job

is broader hard effort, not only physical or repetitive work
to travail
vsto labor
  • Literature
1 9.0

To work hard for a long time and suffer

is strong effort but not always involving suffering or pain
laboring
vsto labor
  • US
3.3

Doing hard physical work

is general strong effort especially in difficult conditions
to toiling
vsto labor
6.1

To work very hard doing physical or unpleasant jobs for a long time

is broad strong effort not limited to long physical toil
to work to the bone
vsto labor
  • Informal
6.0

To do very hard, long tasks until you are very tired

describes strong effort but not necessarily to exhaustion
to fag
vsto labor
  • UK
9.9

To work very hard until you feel tired

is general strong effort without the colloquial or tiring nuance

Antonyms

1.0

To feel less nervous and more calm

703 1.0

A period when you stop activity to relax or sleep

Phrasal Verbs

Make it illegal for companies to hire children to work

Compounds

66 1.4

A holiday on the first Monday in September in the United States and Canada celebrating workers

45 2.7

An organized group of workers that negotiates with employers for better pay and working conditions

labor force
  • Specialized
41 2.2

All the people in a country who can and are available to work

32 2.7

A part of the United States government that helps workers and improves their working conditions

labor market
  • Specialized
27 3.5

A system where employers find workers and people look for jobs

20 3.3

Workers who belong to unions that represent them in talks with employers

19 7.5

A prison where people are forced to work, often for political reasons

18 3.7

A political group that tries to win elections to help working people and get fair treatment for all

18 3.6

An organized group of workers and unions trying to get better pay and conditions

18 3.3

Work done with your hands or body rather than by machines

15 2.8

A US government department that helps workers and protects their rights at work

labor of love
  • Informal
13 3.9

Work people do for pleasure not for money

11 3.5

A government official who leads the department that deals with jobs and work rules

10 3.2

A person who organizes and speaks for workers, often in a union

10 4.0

The official who leads the United States Department of Labor and advises the president

5 2.8

An agreement between workers and their employer that says pay, benefits and work rules

4 3.7

A group of workers available for companies to hire

false labor
  • Specialized
3 5.1

Painless tightening of the belly before birth that does not make the baby come

3 3.2

A written contract between workers and the company about pay and working rules

premature labor
  • Specialized
3 3.5

The start of childbirth before the 37th week of pregnancy

2 4.8

A person who helps workers join a union and work together for better pay

1 3.4

Strong pain in the stomach and lower back when a woman gives birth

1 3.6

Pain a woman feels during childbirth when the womb tightens

An independent United States agency that helps settle disputes between employers and labor unions

1 8.9

An employer forces people and their families to work to pay a debt, often for generations

A former group of unions in the United States that merged in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO

A former small US political party that represented farmers and workers

1 3.3

Workers who are available to do jobs in a country or company

1 3.8

A person who stays with a woman during childbirth and helps her breathe and relax

induction of labor
  • Specialized
1 4.1

Starting labor by giving medicine or breaking the water

A United States government department established in 1903 that handled business and worker issues until it split in 1913

A large group of trade unions in the United States that represents workers

A former New York political party formed in 1936 by labor unions and liberals

A major political party in Australia that supports workers and moderate social policies

An organization that helps countries protect workers' rights and improve working conditions worldwide

A person who led the United States department that handled business and worker affairs before 1913

A political party in the United States that wants workers to own businesses peacefully

How Hard

to slave
47 5.3
toil
16 5.8
to labor
  • US
26 2.7
to slog
5 6.7
work
1.0

Surface Forms

labor infinitive
labour infinitive
labored past
laboured past
labored past participle
laboured past participle
laboring present participle
labouring present participle
labors third person singular
labours third person singular

Etymology

Labor as a verb comes from Latin labor 'work' and means to work hard or make a strong effort, just like the adjective laborious shows the same idea.