Word
difficulty
Phoneticsdif·fi·cul·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɪfəkəɫti/
UK/dˈɪfɪkˌʌlti/
Definitions
01being hard to do
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the quality of being hard to do, understand, or deal with.
n. the state or quality of being difficult; the degree of effort required to complete a task.
“The students had great difficulty understanding the complex grammar rules.”
“The climbers underestimated the difficulty of the ascent, finding that the final ridge required far more technical skill than the map suggested.”
Usage
often used uncountably with the verbs 'have' or 'find'.
Pitfall
I had a difficulty to finish the work.
I had difficulty finishing the work.
When using 'difficulty' as an uncountable noun for effort, follow it with a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a specific problem
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a problem or obstacle that makes it hard to achieve something.
n. a specific obstacle or problem that hinders progress or achievement.
“We ran into several technical difficulties during the live broadcast.”
“Despite numerous bureaucratic difficulties, the charity successfully delivered the medical supplies to the remote mountain village.”
Usage
countable in this sense.
03trouble or danger
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a situation where you are in trouble, especially with money or safety.
n. a state of embarrassment, trouble, or distress, particularly regarding financial or physical circumstances.
“The company is in financial difficulty and might have to close.”
“The coastguard was alerted when a small sailing vessel appeared to be in difficulty several miles off the rocky coast.”
Usage
often used in the phrase 'in difficulty' or 'in difficulties'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “difficulty” in context.
Verb
01. avoid difficulty
“You should plan your trip carefully to avoid difficulty with transportation.”
verb + noun
02. cause difficulty
“The heavy snow began to cause difficulty for drivers on the highway.”
verb + noun
03. create difficulty
“Changing the rules now would create difficulty for the students.”
verb + noun
04. demonstrate difficulty
“The test results demonstrate difficulty in understanding basic grammar.”
verb + noun
05. discuss difficulty
“We need to meet and discuss difficulty with the new project schedule.”
verb + noun
06. encounter difficulty
“If you encounter difficulty while installing the software, call support.”
verb + noun
07. experience difficulty
“Many elderly people experience difficulty using modern smartphones.”
verb + noun
08. explain difficulty
“Can you explain difficulty you are having with this math problem?”
verb + noun
09. face difficulty
“Small businesses often face difficulty during an economic crisis.”
verb + noun
10. have difficulty
“I have difficulty remembering names when I meet many people at once.”
verb + noun
Adjective
11. considerable difficulty
“The team finished the task, but only with considerable difficulty.”
adj + noun
12. difficulty reflect
Real-World Examples
“The difficulty arises when governments are highly indebted and a central bank wants to raise interest rates to control inflation.” “The sport of figure skating has 41 compulsory figure variations that increase in difficulty, but they all arise from the perfect geometry of a circle.” “The obvious hallmarks of poor executive function include difficulty initiating tasks, missing or running up against deadlines, being late, and losing things.” Etymology
From Middle English difficulte, from Middle French and Anglo-Norman difficulte and their etymon Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult. Equivalent to dis- + facile + -ty. Also analysable as difficult + -y, though the adjective is historically a backformation from the noun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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