difficulty
DIH-fih-kuhl-tee
Difficulty (noun) means the state or quality of being hard to do, understand, or manage. Example: “He read the contract with some difficulty.”
noun
1
The state or quality of being hard to do, understand, or manage.
"He read the contract with some difficulty."
"The difficulty of the climb surprised even experienced hikers."
"Beginners often underestimate the difficulty of learning a language with a completely different alphabet."
2
A problem or obstacle that stands in the way of something.
"They ran into a difficulty when the funding fell through."
"The main difficulty with our plan is that nobody has a car."
"If you have any difficulties with the form, ask the receptionist for help."
How to use difficulty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow hard something is, or a specific problem that makes it hard.
Common pairings
with difficulty
in difficulty
a difficulty arose
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Word forms
- Plural
- difficulties
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He read the contract with some _____.
Etymology
From Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, based on difficilis, "hard to do."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for difficulty
See all rhymes for difficulty →Frequently asked questions
What does “difficulty” mean?
The word “difficulty” means the state or quality of being hard to do, understand, or manage. In plain terms, how hard something is, or a specific problem that makes it hard.
How do you pronounce “difficulty”?
“Difficulty” is pronounced DIH-fih-kuhl-tee (/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/ in IPA).
How do you use “difficulty” in a sentence?
Here is “difficulty” used in a sentence: “He read the contract with some difficulty.”
What part of speech is “difficulty”?
“Difficulty” is a noun.
Where does the word “difficulty” come from?
The word “difficulty” comes from Latin. From Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, based on difficilis, "hard to do.".
Is “difficulty” a common word?
“Difficulty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “difficulty” have?
“Difficulty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state or quality of being hard to do, understand, or manage.
What is the difference between 'difficulty' and 'problem'?
A difficulty is the general state of something being hard to do, understand, or manage, while a problem is a specific obstacle that needs solving. You might have difficulty with a task because of several separate problems.
Do you say 'have difficulty doing' or 'have difficulty to do'?
The correct form is 'have difficulty doing something,' using the -ing verb, as in 'She had difficulty finding the address.' 'Have difficulty to do' is not standard English.
What is the difference between 'difficulty' and 'hardship'?
Difficulty refers to how hard something is to accomplish or understand, while hardship describes suffering or severe deprivation, often lasting over time. A puzzle poses a difficulty; losing a home causes hardship.
What prepositions go with 'difficulty'?
'Difficulty' commonly pairs with 'with,' as in 'difficulty with reading,' and 'in,' as in 'difficulty in breathing.' It can also be followed directly by an -ing verb, such as 'difficulty sleeping.'
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