hard
gb/hˈɑɹd/ us/hˈɑɹd/
A1
English
~ 1000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
difficult to do or understand
Needing a lot of work, skill, or thinking to do.
Usage pattern:
[something] is hard
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'hard' with 'hardly', which means 'almost not at all'.
Synonyms
difficult (Slightly more formal and neutral; interchangeable in most contexts.)
Antonyms
easy (Indicates little effort or skill is needed, the opposite of difficult.)
Collocations
hard work
|hard question
|hard exam
|hard decision
|hard time
Themes
daily life
|education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This exam is really hard.
- It was hard to find the right words.
- Climbing the mountain was much harder than we expected.
- Learning a new language can be hard.
- She found it hard to forgive him.
Learner examples
- The test is hard.
- It is hard to read this book.
- Math is hard for me.
- This game is hard.
- It is hard to make a cake.
adjective
A1
property
2
solid and not soft
Firm and not soft when you touch it.
Usage pattern:
[something] is hard
Synonyms
firm (Slightly softer connotation; not as rigid as 'hard'.)
Antonyms
soft (Easily compressed or yielding to touch, opposite of firm and solid.)
Collocations
hard surface
|hard rock
|hard floor
|hard metal
Themes
materials
|physical properties
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The bed was too hard for me to sleep well.
- Diamonds are extremely hard.
- The ground was hard after the frost.
- I hit my head on the hard floor.
Learner examples
- The chair is hard.
- This bread is hard.
- The table is hard.
- My bed is hard.
- The rock is hard.
adverb
A2
property
3
with great effort or force
Using a lot of strength or trying a lot.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] hard
Synonyms
intensely (Focuses on the strength or concentration applied rather than physical force alone.)
Antonyms
gently (With little force; opposite in physical intensity.)
Collocations
work hard
|try hard
|hit hard
|push hard
Themes
work
|sports
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She worked hard all week to meet the deadline.
- He hit the ball hard into the stands.
- They tried hard to solve the problem.
- I studied hard for the exam.
Learner examples
- I work hard every day.
- He runs hard in the race.
- We study hard for the test.
- She plays hard in the game.
adjective
B1
property
4
experiencing difficulty or suffering
Full of problems or pain; not easy to live with.
Usage pattern:
a hard [time/life/year]
Synonyms
tough ('Tough' can sound more informal and can also suggest resilience.)
Antonyms
easygoing (Free from hardship or stress; relaxed.)
Collocations
hard time
|hard life
|hard year
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He's had a hard life since losing his parents.
- It's been a hard year for many businesses.
- They gave me a hard time about being late.
Learner examples
- I had a hard day at work.
- She has a hard life.
- It is a hard time for them.
adjective
B2
property
5
strict or harsh in treatment or rules
Not kind; very strict or severe.
Synonyms
harsh ('Harsh' emphasizes severity, sometimes implying cruelty.)
Antonyms
lenient (Permissive and not strict; opposite in enforcement style.)
Collocations
hard teacher
|hard punishment
Themes
behavior
|authority
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The judge was known for being hard on criminals.
- She can be hard on her students when they don't prepare.
- He took a hard line against corruption.
Learner examples
- The teacher is very hard on us.
- My boss is hard when we are late.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hard
IPA
GB/hˈɑɹd/
US/hˈɑɹd/
Syllables & stress
hard (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hard)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: hard
- Comparative: harder
- Superlative: hardest
Word family
Expressions
give someone a hard time
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ə hˈɑɹd tˈaɪm/
idiom
informal
to tease or hassle someone persistently
To make things difficult for someone, often by teasing or criticizing them.
Examples
- The older kids gave him a hard time about his new haircut.
- Stop giving her a hard time—she's doing her best.
hard work
1/hˈɑɹd wˈɚk/
fixed phrase
work requiring much effort and time
Work that needs a lot of time and energy.
Examples
- Becoming a doctor takes years of hard work.
- Her success is the result of determination and hard work.
hit hard
1/hˈɪt hˈɑɹd/
fixed phrase
affect strongly in a negative way
To cause serious harm or trouble to someone or something.
Examples
- The storm hit the coastal town hard.
- The new tax laws hit small businesses hard.
between a rock and a hard place
1/bɪtwˈin ə ɹˈɑk ˈænd ə hˈɑɹd plˈeɪs/
idiom
faced with two bad choices
To be in a situation where you must choose between two bad things.
Examples
- I'm between a rock and a hard place—either I quit my job or move away from my family.
- I'm between a rock and a hard place—either option will upset someone.
- She felt stuck between a rock and a hard place when deciding on the budget cuts.
- She felt stuck between a rock and a hard place when both jobs had major downsides.
play hardball
1/plˈeɪ hˈɑɹdbˌɔl/
idiom
informal
be tough and aggressive to win
To be very firm and aggressive to get what you want, especially in business or competition.
Examples
- The company decided to play hardball in negotiations.
- The company is playing hardball in contract talks.
- If they want to play hardball, we can too.
- If you want results, you have to play hardball.