ENGLISH
REFERENCE

difficult

adj.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈdɪfəkəɫt// UK //dˈɪfɪkəlt// dif·fi·cult Archaic General-service

adj. needing a lot of effort or skill to do or understand. You use this for things that are not easy.

adj. requiring considerable effort, skill, or endurance to accomplish or comprehend. Often used to describe tasks, problems, or people who are hard to satisfy.


SIMPLE

The math homework is very difficult today.

CONTEXTUAL

Finding a parking space in the city center is often difficult during the morning rush hour.

COMPLEX

The negotiator faced a difficult choice between accepting a flawed peace treaty or continuing a conflict that had already exhausted the nation's resources.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English difficult (ca. 1400), a back-formation from difficulte (whence modern difficulty), from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile. Replaced native Middle English earveþ (“difficult, hard”), from Old English earfoþe (“difficult, laborious, full of hardship”), cognate to German Arbeit (“work”). The verb is from the adjective, partly after Middle French difficulter and its etymon Latin difficultō. Compare difficilitate, difficultate, and Italian difficoltare.

Usage

Gradable adjective; commonly modified by degree adverbs like 'very', 'extremely', or 'quite'.

Pitfall

This task is very difficultyThis task is very difficultLearners often confuse the adjective 'difficult' with the noun 'difficulty'.

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