painstakingly

painstakingly — adverb

1. to do something with intense, detailed attention, investing significant time and

1.adverbC1
Definition

to do something with intense, detailed attention, investing significant time and effort so that every part of the work is as correct or perfect as possible.

Example

Kofi painstakingly restored the old wooden fishing boat over two years.

painstakingly + restored (craftsmanship/restoration context)

The rare manuscripts in the basement were painstakingly catalogued by the night-shift librarian.

Common collocations
  • painstakingly restore
  • painstakingly check
  • painstakingly plan
  • painstakingly reconstruct
  • painstakingly document
  • painstakingly stitch
  • painstakingly brush
  • painstakingly piece together
Synonyms
  • meticulously

    Similar intensity; emphasises attention to tiny details rather than overall effort

  • laboriously

    Focuses more on physical or mental effort and slowness than on precision

  • thoroughly

    Emphasises completeness; does not necessarily imply the work was slow or difficult

  • assiduously

    Formal register; highlights dedication and persistence over time

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

painstakingly + verb (describes the manner of an action)

painstakingly + past participle (as adjective)

Usage Note

Typically pairs with verbs describing detailed physical or intellectual work — for example, restore, examine, check, plan, reconstruct, stitch, or document. The adverb implies that the action was slow and demanded sustained effort, not just ordinary care.

Common Mistakes

She painstakingly walked to the bus stop.
She carefully walked to the bus stop.
Use 'painstakingly' only for complex, detailed tasks; simple everyday actions need a lighter adverb like 'carefully' or 'slowly'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe doing something with great care, but they highlight different aspects. 'Painstakingly' emphasises the time and effort invested in getting every detail right — the work is slow because the standard is high. 'Meticulously' focuses on precision and attention to tiny details; a meticulous person might check each comma, but the task may not be physically draining. 'Laboriously' stresses the difficulty and slowness of the work itself, often physical ('He laboriously dug a trench'), without necessarily implying fine accuracy. 'Thoroughly' is broader — it means nothing was missed, but the work could be done quickly as long as it was complete. 'Assiduously' is the most formal and adds a sense of persistent dedication over time. For example: 'She painstakingly restored each page of the medieval manuscript with tweezers and archival glue' (slow, careful, detail-focused) vs. 'She thoroughly proofread the report in one sitting' (complete but faster).

meticulously ↗laboriouslythoroughly ↗assiduously

Common collocations

Phrases

  • with painstaking care
  • in a painstaking manner
  • after painstaking effort

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from 'painstaking' (the adjective meaning 'taking pains, making a careful effort') plus the adverb suffix '-ly'. In the phrase 'taking pains', the word 'pain' retains its older meaning of 'effort, trouble' — a sense that goes back to Latin 'poena' (penalty, hardship) and through Old French 'peine' (effort, difficulty). So 'painstakingly' literally suggests doing something as if you are willing to endure hardship to get it right.