(~er, ~est)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Something that is ~ is very firm and stiff to touch and is not easily bent, cut, or broken.
He shuffled his feet on the ~ wooden floor...
Something cold and ~ pressed into the back of his neck.
? soft
ADJ
~ness
He felt the ~ness of the iron railing press against his spine.
N-UNCOUNT: oft with poss
2.
Something that is ~ is very difficult to do or deal with.
It’s ~ to tell what effect this latest move will have...
Our traveller’s behaviour on the journey is ~ to explain...
That’s a very ~ question.
= difficult
? easy
ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf, ADJ to-inf
3.
If you work ~ doing something, you are very active or work intensely, with a lot of effort.
I’ll work ~. I don’t want to let him down...
Am I trying too ~?
ADV: ADV after v
•
Hard is also an adjective.
I admired him as a true scientist and ~ worker.
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
Hard work involves a lot of activity and effort.
Coping with three babies is very ~ work...
Their work is ~ and unglamorous, and most people would find it boring.
ADJ
5.
If you look, listen, or think ~, you do it carefully and with a great deal of attention.
You had to listen ~ to hear the old man breathe...
ADV: ADV after v
•
Hard is also an adjective.
It might be worth taking a long ~ look at your frustrations and resentments.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
6.
If you strike or take hold of something ~, you strike or take hold of it with a lot of force.
I kicked a dustbin very ~ and broke my toe.
ADV: ADV after v
•
Hard is also an adjective.
He gave her a ~ push which toppled her backwards into an armchair.
ADJ: ADJ n
7.
You can use ~ to indicate that something happens intensely and for a long time.
I’ve never seen Terry laugh so ~...
It was snowing ~ by then.
ADV: ADV after v
8.
If a person or their expression is ~, they show no kindness or sympathy.
His father was a ~ man...
? gentle
ADJ: usu ADJ n
9.
If you are ~ on someone, you treat them severely or unkindly.
Don’t be so ~ on him.
? soft
ADJ: v-link ADJ on n
•
Hard is also an adverb.
He said the security forces would continue to crack down ~ on the protestors.
ADV: ADV after v
10.
If you say that something is ~ on a person or thing, you mean it affects them in a way that is likely to cause them damage or suffering.
The grey light was ~ on the eyes...
These last four years have been ~ on them.
ADJ: v-link ADJ on n
11.
If you have a ~ life or a ~ period of time, your life or that period is difficult and unpleasant for you.
It had been a ~ life for her...
Those were ~ times.
= tough
ADJ
~ness
In America, people don’t normally admit to the ~ness of life.
N-UNCOUNT: N of n
12.
Hard evidence or facts are definitely true and do not need to be questioned.
There are probably fewer ~ facts about the life of Henry Purcell than that of any other great composer since the Renaissance.
ADJ: ADJ n
13.
Hard water contains a lot of calcium compounds that stop soap making bubbles and sometimes appear as a deposit in kettles and baths.
? soft
ADJ
14.
Hard drugs are very strong illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine.
? soft
ADJ: ADJ n
15.
If you feel ~ done by, you feel that you have not been treated fairly. (BRIT)
The hall porter was feeling ~ done by at having to extend his shift.
PHRASE: v-link PHR
16.
If you say that something is ~ going, you mean it is difficult and requires a lot of effort.
The talks had been ~ going at the start.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
17.
To be ~ hit by something means to be affected very severely by it.
California’s been particularly ~ hit by the recession.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
18.
If someone plays ~ to get, they pretend not to be interested in another person or in what someone is trying to persuade them to do.
I wanted her and she was playing ~ to get.
PHRASE: V inflects
19.
If someone is ~ put to do something or, in British English if they are ~ pushed to do something, they have great difficulty doing it.
Mr Morton is undoubtedly cleverer than Mr Kirkby, but he will be ~ put to match his popularity.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR to-inf
20.
If you take something ~, you are very upset or depressed by it.
Maybe I just took it too ~.
PHRASE: V inflects