2 hard
Function:
adverbInflected forms:
hard·er; hard·estMeaning:
1 : with a lot of effort or energy ▪ You have to work hard in order to succeed. ▪ I know how hard she tried. ▪ She ran as hard as she could. ▪ working/studying/fighting hard ▪ We've thought long and hard about this problem. ◊If you are hard at work (on something) you are doing work with a lot of effort and energy. ▪ You shouldn't disturb her while she's hard at work. ▪ We're hard at work on the new project.
2 : in a very forceful way ▪ He hit the ball hard. ▪ a hard-hit ball ▪ The ball hit him hard on the wrist. ▪ He pressed his nose hard against the window. ▪ swallowing hard ▪ She pushed hard against the door, but it wouldn't open. ▪ The wind was blowing hard. ▪ The snow/rain came down hard. ▪ The dog bit down hard on the thief's hand. : in a loud and forceful way ▪ She was breathing hard. ▪ laughing/crying hard ◊If you are hit hard or hard hit by something or if something hits you hard, it affects you powerfully in a very painful or shocking way. ▪ His business was hit hard by the recession. ▪ Her sudden death hit them hard. ◊If you take something hard you are very upset or hurt by it. ▪ She took it hard [=she was very upset] when he left. ▪ We took the defeat hard.
3 a : in a very direct and intense way ▪ He looked hard into her eyes. b : in an extreme or complete way ▪ He fell hard for the girl next door.
2 : in a very forceful way ▪ He hit the ball hard. ▪ a hard-hit ball ▪ The ball hit him hard on the wrist. ▪ He pressed his nose hard against the window. ▪ swallowing hard ▪ She pushed hard against the door, but it wouldn't open. ▪ The wind was blowing hard. ▪ The snow/rain came down hard. ▪ The dog bit down hard on the thief's hand. : in a loud and forceful way ▪ She was breathing hard. ▪ laughing/crying hard ◊If you are hit hard or hard hit by something or if something hits you hard, it affects you powerfully in a very painful or shocking way. ▪ His business was hit hard by the recession. ▪ Her sudden death hit them hard. ◊If you take something hard you are very upset or hurt by it. ▪ She took it hard [=she was very upset] when he left. ▪ We took the defeat hard.
3 a : in a very direct and intense way ▪ He looked hard into her eyes. b : in an extreme or complete way ▪ He fell hard for the girl next door.
die hard —see 1die
hard by
old-fashioned : next to ▪ The school stood hard by a church.
hard done by
Brit : treated harshly or unfairly ▪ He felt very hard done by when he was laid off after many years of faithful service.
hard on the heels of —see 1heel