adjective Strong and resilient; not easily broken, worn out, or damaged.
- These work boots are made from tough leather.
- Children's school bags need to be tough enough to survive daily wear.
- This tough little car has crossed muddy fields without a single problem.
adjective Difficult to cut or chew, describing food.
- The steak was overcooked and tough.
- The meat was so tough that I could hardly chew it.
- Cheap cuts of beef can be tough unless you cook them slowly.
adjective Physically or mentally hardy; able to endure difficulty.
- You have to be tough to survive a winter that cold.
- She stayed tough through months of grueling training.
- Our grandfather was a tough man who never complained about the cold.
adjective Difficult or demanding, describing a situation, task, or question.
- That was a tough exam.
- We've had a tough year financially.
- Choosing between two good job offers was a tough decision for her.
interjection Used to show a lack of sympathy for someone's complaint.
- I don't want to go." "Tough — you're going anyway.
- You wanted the window seat and missed out? Tough, you should have booked earlier.
- If you don't like the rota, tough, because it's not changing.
