hard
hahd
Hard (adj) means Solid and firm; not easily broken, cut, or dented. Example: “Diamonds are famously the hardest naturally occurring material.”
adj
1
Solid and firm; not easily broken, cut, or dented.
"Diamonds are famously the hardest naturally occurring material."
"The bread had gone hard after sitting out overnight."
"The ground was too hard to dig after weeks without rain."
2
Difficult; requiring a lot of effort, skill, or endurance.
"The exam was much harder than anyone expected."
"It was hard to say goodbye after so many years together."
"Learning to play the violin is hard, but it is rewarding."
3
Severe, harsh, or lacking sympathy.
"He took a hard line with anyone who broke the rules."
"The coach was hard on the players and showed them little sympathy."
"It was a hard thing to hear, and the manager did not soften it."
adv
1
With a lot of force or effort.
"She worked hard all summer to save enough for college."
"It was raining so hard that we could barely see the road."
"He pushed hard against the heavy door until it finally opened."
How to use hard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFirm and solid, or, more often, difficult and demanding effort.
Common mistake
"Hardly" is not the adverb form of "hard" in the sense of effort — "hardly" means "barely." "She worked hard" (a lot of effort) is very different from "She hardly worked" (she did almost nothing).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a hard decision
work hard
hard to say
a hard worker
try hard
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like hard.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- hards
- Third person singular
- hards
- Past tense
- harded
- Comparative
- harder, more hard
- Superlative
- hardest, most hard
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bread had gone _____ after sitting out overnight.
Etymology
From Old English heard, from a very old Germanic and Indo-European root meaning "strong" or "powerful" — the same root behind the Greek word for "strength."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hard
See all rhymes for hard →Frequently asked questions
What does “hard” mean?
The word “hard” means solid and firm; not easily broken, cut, or dented. In plain terms, firm and solid, or, more often, difficult and demanding effort.
How do you pronounce “hard”?
“Hard” is pronounced hahd (/hɑɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “hard” in a sentence?
Here is “hard” used in a sentence: “Diamonds are famously the hardest naturally occurring material.”
What is another word for “hard”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hard” include adamantine, concrete, granitic, firm, grim and inflexible.
What is the opposite of “hard”?
The opposite of “hard” — its antonyms — are cushiony, flexible, soft, moldable and spongy.
What part of speech is “hard”?
Depending on how it is used, “hard” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “hard” come from?
The word “hard” comes from Old English. From Old English heard, from a very old Germanic and Indo-European root meaning "strong" or "powerful" — the same root behind the Greek word for "strength.".
Is “hard” a common word?
“Hard” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between 'hard' and 'hardly'?
Though they look related, their meanings diverge. 'Hard' means firm or difficult, and also works as an adverb meaning with effort: 'work hard.' 'Hardly' means barely or almost not: 'I could hardly hear.' Saying 'I worked hardly' is a mistake, because it wrongly means you barely worked.
What is the opposite of 'hard'?
For the firmness sense in this definition, the opposite is 'soft', easily pressed, bent, or dented. When 'hard' instead means difficult, its opposite is 'easy.' Because the word carries both meanings, the right antonym depends on whether you are describing texture or difficulty.
Does 'hard' also mean difficult?
Yes. Besides describing something solid and firm, 'hard' very commonly means difficult or demanding: 'a hard exam,' 'a hard day.' It can also mean forceful, as in 'a hard push,' or harsh, as in 'hard words.' Context shows whether physical firmness or difficulty is meant.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include hard:
