Travail Meaning in English
word
Definition
Intense and difficult work, often involving a lot of effort or pain. Sometimes also refers to the pain of childbirth in older or formal usage.
Usage & Nuances
Very formal and literary; rarely used in daily conversation. Often found in literature or academic writing to emphasize the extreme difficulty or suffering involved in a task. May occasionally refer to childbirth but is now more common as a metaphor for hard struggle.
Example Sentences
After months of travail, she finally finished her book.
basic
Building the bridge was a great travail for the workers.
basic
He spoke of his travail during his long illness.
basic
The artist's masterpiece was born out of years of personal travail.
natural
After all that travail, he finally got the promotion he deserved.
natural
Sometimes, the road to success is paved with years of travail and sacrifice.
natural