labour (B1)

noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈleɪbər/

Definition

Physical or mental effort, especially when it is hard or difficult.

Examples

• The job requires a lot of manual labour.

• She put a lot of labour into her garden.

• The economic reforms reduced the need for manual labour.

How to Use labour

labour under (prepositional phrase)

To be in a state of believing something that is not true. — "He was labouring under the delusion that he would win the lottery."

labour for (prepositional phrase)

To work hard for a particular goal or employer. — "They laboured for years to build their business."

labour to do (prepositional phrase)

To make a great effort to achieve something. — "He laboured to finish the project on time."

Synonyms of labour

Words with a similar meaning to labour:

• work
• toil
• exertion
• drudgery

Antonyms of labour

Words with the opposite meaning to labour:

• leisure
• idleness

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