travail
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /trəˈveɪl/
KK: /trəˈveɪl/
intransitive verb
Definition
To work hard or labor, especially in a difficult or strenuous way.
Example
She had to travail through the long hours of her job to meet the deadline.
Tense Forms
Past: travailled
Past Participle: travailled
Conversation
I heard you had to travail a lot this week at work.
Yeah, it was pretty exhausting but rewarding in the end.
I can imagine! Sometimes those long hours really make you feel accomplished.
Exactly! It's all worth it when you see the results.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
labor
strive
toil
Antonyms
rest
idle
relax
noun
Definition
A difficult or painful effort, often related to work or labor, especially in the context of childbirth or other challenging tasks.
Example
The travail of raising a family can be both rewarding and exhausting.
Conversation
I can't believe how much travail this project has caused me lately.
I know, right? It feels like we've been working non-stop.
Every time I think I'm done, there's more travail to tackle.
Root Explanation
Travail comes from Old French 'travaillier' (meaning to work or labor), which is derived from the Latin 'tripalium' (meaning a three-pole instrument of torture). The word originally referred to the laborious effort associated with work, reflecting the idea of toil or hardship.
Memory Tip
Think of the Old French word for work, 'travaillier', which helps you remember that 'travail' means hard work or labor.
Visually Confused Words
reavail
trail
avail
fortravail
paravail