belabour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary, academic. Not used in casual conversation.
Quick answer
What does “belabour” mean?
to argue or discuss a point in excessive detail, or to attack physically or verbally.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to argue or discuss a point in excessive detail, or to attack physically or verbally.
To criticize or attack someone or an idea with excessive persistence; to dwell on a subject longer than necessary; to thrash or beat (archaic/literal sense).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a difference in spelling: British English uses 'belabour'. American English uses 'belabor' (without 'u'). Usage and meaning are identical.
Connotations
Connotes pedantry, unnecessary repetition, and overly forceful criticism in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but appears more often in British formal writing due to stylistic preference for such verbs.
Grammar
How to Use “belabour” in a Sentence
[subject] belabours [object] (e.g., She belaboured the argument.)It is unnecessary/futile to belabour [object] (e.g., It is futile to belabour this issue.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “belabour” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The historian chose not to belabour the well-known chronology.
- The MP belaboured his opponent with a barrage of statistics.
- He tends to belabour the ethical implications in every meeting.
American English
- The reviewer belabored the film's minor plot holes.
- I won't belabor the obvious shortcomings of the plan.
- She belabored the analogy until it lost all meaning.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form.
American English
- No standard adjective form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in critiques of management reports: 'The consultant belaboured the obvious market risks.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, philosophy, or history to describe a text's focus: 'The author belabours the theme of decay for several chapters.'
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used humorously: 'I won't belabour this, but you're late again.'
Technical
Not used in STEM fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “belabour”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “belabour”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “belabour”
- Misspelling: 'belabour' (UK) vs. 'belabor' (US).
- Using it in a positive sense (e.g., 'He belaboured the benefits' – sounds negative).
- Using it in informal contexts where simpler words like 'go on about' are more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its primary modern meaning is figurative: to discuss or criticize something excessively or tediously.
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. Simpler alternatives like 'go on about' or 'dwell on' are more common in everyday speech.
'Labour' (verb) means to work hard or to explain something in detail. 'Belabour' adds a negative connotation of doing this excessively, pointlessly, or repetitively.
This literal meaning is now archaic and almost never used in contemporary English. The figurative sense is universal.
to argue or discuss a point in excessive detail, or to attack physically or verbally.
Belabour is usually formal, literary, academic. not used in casual conversation. in register.
Belabour: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈleɪbə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈleɪbər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To belabour the point (idiomatic for excessive repetition).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BE + LABOUR'. To 'labour' a point means to work on it hard; 'BELABOUR' is to work on it even more, excessively.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT/TOPIC IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT THAT CAN BE BEATEN (criticism as physical assault).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'belabour' used CORRECTLY?