# hard

/ˈhɑɹd/ (US) · /hˈɑːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hard
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. solid and firm

adjective · CEFR A1

not soft; something that stays firm when you press it.

For teachers: physically firm, rigid, or resistant to pressure; not easily penetrated or out of shape.

- The ground was too hard to dig because it had not rained for weeks.
- The diamond is the hardest known natural material, capable of scratching any other mineral surface without sustaining damage itself.

### 2. difficult

adjective · CEFR A1

needing a lot of effort or thought to do or understand.

For teachers: requiring great physical or mental effort; challenging to accomplish or comprehend.

- I found the last question on the math test really hard.
- The committee faced a hard decision regarding the budget cuts, as every option involved significant job losses.

### 3. strict or severe

adjective · CEFR B1

showing no kindness or being very strict.

For teachers: showing lack of sympathy; severe, stern, or demanding in nature.

- Our new coach is very hard on us during practice.
- Life in the mining town was hard, and the residents developed a resilient character to cope with the daily struggles.

### 4. proven or factual

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

based on facts that can be proven, not just ideas.

For teachers: referring to data or evidence that is definite, reliable, and verifiable.

- The police are looking for hard evidence to link him to the crime.
- Economists prefer hard data over anecdotal reports when forecasting the quarterly growth of the national economy.

### 5. physical version

adjective · CEFR B1

a physical object rather than a digital one on a computer.

For teachers: existing in a physical or printed form as opposed to electronic or digital media.

- I still prefer reading a hard copy of a book rather than using a tablet.
- The archive maintains hard copies of all legal documents in a climate-controlled vault to ensure long-term preservation.

### 6. tough or cool

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

acting tough, strong, or impressive in a cool way.

For teachers: demonstrating a tough, formidable, or impressive persona; often used to describe music or fashion.

- That new track they released is so hard.
- He tried to act hard in front of his friends, but everyone knew he was actually quite sensitive.

### 7. with great effort

adverb · CEFR A1

using a lot of energy, strength, or focus.

For teachers: with a great deal of effort, force, or intensity.

- If you work hard, you will eventually reach your goals.
- The rain hit the roof so hard that we could barely hear each other speaking during the storm.

Usage: The adverb 'hard' follows the verb it describes.

### 8. boat ramp

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical

a solid path or slope used for pulling boats out of the water.

For teachers: a firm, man-made slope or area of ground used for landing or hauling up boats.

- We hauled the dinghy up onto the hard to clean the hull.
- The yacht club recently renovated the concrete hard to accommodate larger vessels during the winter maintenance season.

## Examples

- The math exam is very hard.
- The ground was so hard after the long frost that the workers could not dig the trench.
- Economists warn that the central bank faces a hard choice between raising interest rates to fight inflation and keeping them low to support growth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.