Word
hardcore
Phoneticshard·core, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɑɹdˈkɔɹ/
UK/hˈɑːdkɔː/
Definitions
01extremely dedicated
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. showing a very strong and serious commitment to an activity or group.
adj. characterised by extreme dedication or unwavering commitment to a specific cause, activity, or subculture.
“He is a hardcore fan who travels to every single game his team plays.”
“The hardcore supporters remained in the stands despite the torrential rain, chanting until the final whistle blew.”
Antonyms
02intense or difficult
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. very intense, tough, or demanding extreme effort.
adj. highly intense, rigorous, or demanding; often used to describe physical training or difficult environments.
Español:intensísimo
“That mountain bike trail was pretty hardcore with all those steep drops.”
“The special forces undergo a hardcore training regime designed to push their physical and mental endurance to the absolute limit.”
03explicit or obscene
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. showing or describing sexual acts or violence in a very detailed and direct way.
adj. depicting sexual acts or violence in an explicit, graphic, or unmitigated manner.
“The movie was rated R because it contained some hardcore violence.”
“The documentary was criticised for including hardcore footage of the conflict that many viewers found unnecessarily graphic.”
Antonyms
04music genre
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Music Informal
n. a style of music that is faster and louder than usual, like hardcore punk or techno.
n. a subgenre of punk rock or electronic dance music characterised by faster tempos and higher intensity.
“She loves listening to hardcore when she needs a lot of energy at the gym.”
“The club specialised in hardcore, attracting a niche audience that appreciated the aggressive percussion and rapid-fire BPM.”
05construction material
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Technical · British English
n. broken bricks or stones used to make a solid base for a road or building.
n. mass of solid, not easily compressed material such as broken bricks or stone used as a foundation.
“The builders laid a layer of hardcore before pouring the concrete for the driveway.”
“The specifications required a six-inch layer of compacted hardcore to ensure the stability of the new access road.”
06to an extreme degree
C1 · Advanced Slang
adv. doing something in a very intense or extreme way.
adv. acting in an intense, extreme, or uncompromising manner; functions as an intensifier.
“They were partying hardcore until four in the morning.”
“The team went hardcore on the final project, staying in the office for thirty-six hours straight to meet the deadline.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hardcore” in context.
Verb
01. become hardcore
“He started as a casual gamer but quickly became hardcore, playing ten hours a day.”
verb + adj
Adjective
02. pretty hardcore
“The training session was pretty hardcore, even for the professional athletes.”
adv + adj
03. truly hardcore
“Only the truly hardcore fans stayed until the end of the concert in the pouring rain.”
adv + adj
Noun
04. hardcore fan
“The band has a small but loyal group of hardcore fans who follow them on every tour.”
adj + noun
05. hardcore gamer
“Hardcore gamers often spend thousands of dollars on high-end PC components.”
adj + noun
06. hardcore pornography
“The government introduced stricter regulations regarding the distribution of hardcore pornography.”
adj + noun
07. hardcore punk
“The club is famous for hosting underground hardcore punk shows every weekend.”
adj + noun
08. hardcore support
“The candidate relies on hardcore support from rural voters to win the election.”
adj + noun
09. hardcore element of
“A hardcore element of the protesters refused to leave until their demands were met.”
10. hardcore fan base
“The cult classic film has maintained a dedicated hardcore fan base for decades.”
Real-World Examples
“Knocked Loose , a hardcore punk band from Kentucky, became a fast favourite.” “Some guys, more hardcore than me, would hang a pack off each hip then swagger round like a western gunslinger.” Etymology
From hard + core: hard to the core; 1936 (n.); 1951 (adj.)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/hardcore
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0