DIFFICULTY

[noun]We finished the job but only with great difficulty (= effort). [U]The difficulty of the task (= amount of skill it needed) excited them. [U]People with asthma have difficulty in breathing (= need to use effort to breathe because it is not easy). [U]She has been having great difficulty (= having to use effort because it is not easy) finding a job. [U + verb-ing]A difficulty is a problem.He has been having financial/personal difficulties recently.His work involved assessing the special educational needs of children with learning difficulties.We seem to have some apparently insuperable difficulties facing us.People who are learning a new language often encounter some difficulties at first.An unforeseen difficulty has arisen.The situation is fraught with difficulties.A ship is in difficulties (= is having problems) off the coast of Ireland.(UK and ANZ) This isn't the first time that she's been in difficulties (= trouble) with the police.