1 hard
Pronounced:
/ˈhɑɚd/
Function:
adjectiveInflected forms:
hard·er; hard·estMeaning:
1 : very firm or solid : not easy to bend, cut, etc. : not soft ▪ hard ground ▪ a hard bench/floor/shell ▪ hard cheese/rubber ▪ This bread is (as) hard as a rock. [=very hard] —opposite soft
2 : physically or mentally difficult : not easy ▪ That test was hard. ▪ a hard task ▪ hard work ▪ She was asked a lot of hard questions. ▪ We're going to have to make some hard choices/decisions. ▪ It's hard to solve this problem. = This is a hard problem (to solve). = This problem is hard (to solve). ▪ He's a hard guy to figure out. = He's a guy who's hard to figure out. = It's hard to figure that guy out. ▪ It was very hard to find a replacement for her. ▪ Their story is hard to believe. ▪ It's hard not to worry about her. ▪ It's hard to tell/know what she's thinking. ▪ He was sentenced to five years of hard labor. [=time in prison spent in intense physical labor]
3 a : difficult to experience : severe or harsh ▪ He has learned a hard lesson. ▪ It's been a hard winter. [=a very cold winter with harsh weather] : having a lot of pain, trouble, or worries ▪ She has had a very hard life. = Life has been very hard for her. ▪ I had a hard [=tough] day at the office. ▪ We've been having some hard [=poor, bad] luck. ◊Hard times are times when there is a lot of trouble, poverty, worry, or failure. ▪ She's stuck with them through all the hard times. ▪ The region has been experiencing some economic hard times. ▪ After years of success, their business has fallen on hard times. b : having a harmful or destructive effect ▪ His health has suffered from years of hard living. ▪ This old bicycle has obviously gotten some hard use.
4 : working or doing something with a lot of energy ▪ She's a hard [=diligent, energetic] worker.
5 : very forceful ▪ The plane made a hard [=jarring] landing. ▪ He hit a hard line drive past the shortstop. ▪ A hard rain was falling. ▪ He was knocked out by a hard right to the jaw. : quick and forceful ▪ hard acceleration ▪ hard braking ▪ a hard left turn
6 : done with a lot of careful thought and attention : thorough or intense ▪ The jeweler gave the gem a long hard look. [=the jeweler looked at the gem very closely and carefully] ▪ Investors are taking a very hard look at how the company does business.
7 : able to be clearly seen and measured : not able to be questioned or doubted ▪ Those are the (cold) hard facts of the case. ▪ She is still collecting hard data on the software's performance. ▪ It's an interesting theory, but there is no hard evidence that supports it.
8 a : not seeming to care about other people or to feel kindness or affection ▪ He's a hard man. ▪ a hard taskmaster ▪ She has an extremely hard [=unfeeling] heart. ▪ He's as hard as nails. [=he's very hard or tough] —opposite soft b : not gentle or friendly ▪ hard [=harsh] words
9 : holding extreme political views ▪ a member of the hard [=far, extreme] right/left
10 : relating to serious matters ▪ They only report hard news. —opposite soft
11 a : containing a large amount of alcohol ▪ hard liquor ▪ the hard stuff b : containing alcohol ▪ hard cider/lemonade
12 : powerful and extremely harmful to the health ▪ cocaine and other hard drugs —opposite soft
13 of water : containing many minerals and therefore unable to make bubbles with soap ▪ hard water —opposite soft
14 : having clear, sharp lines ▪ trying to soften the hard edges of the image
15 : very bright and unpleasant ▪ hard lighting ▪ the cold, hard light of day
16 : sounding like the “c” in “cold” or the “g” in “geese” ▪ The “g” in “gorilla” is hard, but the “g” in “giant” is soft. ▪ the hard “c” in “cat” —opposite soft
17 informal : physically strong ▪ hard [=muscular] bodies
2 : physically or mentally difficult : not easy ▪ That test was hard. ▪ a hard task ▪ hard work ▪ She was asked a lot of hard questions. ▪ We're going to have to make some hard choices/decisions. ▪ It's hard to solve this problem. = This is a hard problem (to solve). = This problem is hard (to solve). ▪ He's a hard guy to figure out. = He's a guy who's hard to figure out. = It's hard to figure that guy out. ▪ It was very hard to find a replacement for her. ▪ Their story is hard to believe. ▪ It's hard not to worry about her. ▪ It's hard to tell/know what she's thinking. ▪ He was sentenced to five years of hard labor. [=time in prison spent in intense physical labor]
3 a : difficult to experience : severe or harsh ▪ He has learned a hard lesson. ▪ It's been a hard winter. [=a very cold winter with harsh weather] : having a lot of pain, trouble, or worries ▪ She has had a very hard life. = Life has been very hard for her. ▪ I had a hard [=tough] day at the office. ▪ We've been having some hard [=poor, bad] luck. ◊Hard times are times when there is a lot of trouble, poverty, worry, or failure. ▪ She's stuck with them through all the hard times. ▪ The region has been experiencing some economic hard times. ▪ After years of success, their business has fallen on hard times. b : having a harmful or destructive effect ▪ His health has suffered from years of hard living. ▪ This old bicycle has obviously gotten some hard use.
4 : working or doing something with a lot of energy ▪ She's a hard [=diligent, energetic] worker.
5 : very forceful ▪ The plane made a hard [=jarring] landing. ▪ He hit a hard line drive past the shortstop. ▪ A hard rain was falling. ▪ He was knocked out by a hard right to the jaw. : quick and forceful ▪ hard acceleration ▪ hard braking ▪ a hard left turn
6 : done with a lot of careful thought and attention : thorough or intense ▪ The jeweler gave the gem a long hard look. [=the jeweler looked at the gem very closely and carefully] ▪ Investors are taking a very hard look at how the company does business.
7 : able to be clearly seen and measured : not able to be questioned or doubted ▪ Those are the (cold) hard facts of the case. ▪ She is still collecting hard data on the software's performance. ▪ It's an interesting theory, but there is no hard evidence that supports it.
8 a : not seeming to care about other people or to feel kindness or affection ▪ He's a hard man. ▪ a hard taskmaster ▪ She has an extremely hard [=unfeeling] heart. ▪ He's as hard as nails. [=he's very hard or tough] —opposite soft b : not gentle or friendly ▪ hard [=harsh] words
9 : holding extreme political views ▪ a member of the hard [=far, extreme] right/left
10 : relating to serious matters ▪ They only report hard news. —opposite soft
11 a : containing a large amount of alcohol ▪ hard liquor ▪ the hard stuff b : containing alcohol ▪ hard cider/lemonade
12 : powerful and extremely harmful to the health ▪ cocaine and other hard drugs —opposite soft
13 of water : containing many minerals and therefore unable to make bubbles with soap ▪ hard water —opposite soft
14 : having clear, sharp lines ▪ trying to soften the hard edges of the image
15 : very bright and unpleasant ▪ hard lighting ▪ the cold, hard light of day
16 : sounding like the “c” in “cold” or the “g” in “geese” ▪ The “g” in “gorilla” is hard, but the “g” in “giant” is soft. ▪ the hard “c” in “cat” —opposite soft
17 informal : physically strong ▪ hard [=muscular] bodies
a hard act to follow —see follow
a hard nut (to crack) —see nut
a hard row to hoe —see 1row
between a rock and a hard place —see 2rock
drive a hard bargain —see 1bargain
give (someone) a hard time
: to criticize or annoy someone ▪ They gave him a hard time about quitting the team.
hard feelings
1 ◊If you have hard feelings, you feel dislike or anger toward someone who you think has mistreated you. ▪ She felt/had no hard feelings towards him. ▪ The court's decision has caused a lot of hard feelings.
2 ◊The phrase no hard feelings is used in speech to say that you are not upset or to ask if someone else is upset. ▪ “I'm sorry I broke our date last night.” “That's OK; no hard feelings.” ▪ “So, we're still friends, right? No hard feelings?”
2 ◊The phrase no hard feelings is used in speech to say that you are not upset or to ask if someone else is upset. ▪ “I'm sorry I broke our date last night.” “That's OK; no hard feelings.” ▪ “So, we're still friends, right? No hard feelings?”
hard knocks —see 2knock
hard of hearing
: not able to hear well ▪ He has become a little hard of hearing in his old age.
hard on
1 a : causing damage or strain to (something) ▪ Reading in dim light is hard on your eyes. [=it puts a strain on your eyes; it is not good for them] ▪ This kind of work can be hard on your back. b : causing stress or worry to (someone) ▪ These past few months have been hard on everyone, but things should get better soon.
2 : treating or judging (someone) in a harsh or critical way ▪ Don't be too hard on the boy. [=don't judge or treat the boy too harshly] ▪ She is sometimes too hard on herself. ▪ There's no need to be so hard on yourself—you did the best you could.
2 : treating or judging (someone) in a harsh or critical way ▪ Don't be too hard on the boy. [=don't judge or treat the boy too harshly] ▪ She is sometimes too hard on herself. ▪ There's no need to be so hard on yourself—you did the best you could.
hard up
informal 1 : lacking money ▪ We're pretty hard up these days.
2 : having not enough of something —+ for ▪ She always seems to be hard up for cash. ▪ He's hard up for friends. [=he has few friends]
2 : having not enough of something —+ for ▪ She always seems to be hard up for cash. ▪ He's hard up for friends. [=he has few friends]
have a hard time
◊If you have a hard time doing something or with something, it is difficult for you. ▪ She's having a hard time adjusting to college life. ▪ The school has had a hard time recruiting substitute teachers. ▪ He's been having a hard time with his research paper.
play hard to get —see 1play
the hard way
: in a way that involves difficult or painful experiences ▪ He found out the hard way that crime doesn't pay. [=he found out by being punished for his crimes] ▪ She insisted on doing things the hard way.