toil

Toil is hard, continuous, exhausting work, often involving repetitive physical or mental effort over an extended period. As a noun, toil denotes the labor itself; as a verb, to toil means to labor strenuously. Toil typically implies fatigue, perseverance, and sometimes little immediate reward, distinguishing it from more routine or voluntary work.

In everyday language, toil emphasizes hardship and burden. It appears frequently in literature and religious or moral discourse to convey the weight of human effort, struggle, or the pursuit of survival. The phrase “toil and trouble” (as in Shakespeare) and biblical expressions such as “by the sweat of thy brow” illustrate its use to convey moral or existential dimensions of labor.

Etymology and usage history: The term has long circulated in English and has roots in the language’s medieval stages to describe arduous labor. In modern usage, “toil” is often contrasted with ease or leisure, and with more neutral terms such as “labor” or “work” depending on tone and context.

See also: labor, drudgery, travail, hard work.