What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
labour
Example
The construction workers put in a lot of labour to finish the project on time. [labour: noun]
Example
She had to labour through the difficult math problem. [labour: verb]
toil
Example
The farmers toiled in the fields all day under the hot sun. [toiled: verb]
Example
She was exhausted after a day of toil at the factory. [toil: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Labour is more commonly used in everyday language than toil. Labour is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while toil is less common and typically used in more specific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between labour and toil?
Both labour and toil can be used in formal and informal contexts, but labour is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels.