# tough

/ˈtəf/ (US) · /tˈʌf/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. strong and resilient

adjective · CEFR B1

strong and able to handle pain, difficult conditions, or hard work.

For teachers: physically or mentally resilient; capable of enduring hardship or strain without breaking.

- She is a tough person who never gives up when things get hard.
- The mountain climbers were remarkably tough, surviving three days in the sub-zero temperatures with minimal supplies.

### 2. difficult to do

adjective · CEFR B1

very difficult to deal with or finish.

For teachers: demanding great effort, endurance, or resolve.

- The exam was really tough and many students didn't finish on time.
- The board faced a tough decision regarding the merger, as hundreds of jobs were potentially at stake.

### 3. hard to chew

adjective · CEFR B1

difficult to cut or chew, especially meat.

For teachers: physically firm or fibrous; resistant to mastication or cutting.

- The steak was so tough that I could barely cut it with my knife.
- If you overcook the octopus, the texture becomes incredibly tough and rubbery rather than tender.

### 4. strict or severe

adjective · CEFR B2

strict and not easily influenced by pity or excuses.

For teachers: enforcing rules strictly; unyielding or severe in judgment or policy.

- The new manager is very tough on employees who arrive late.
- The government promised to be tough on crime by introducing mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders.

### 5. a bully or thug

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who is violent or acts like a bully.

For teachers: a person who behaves in a rough or violent way, typically a criminal or a hired bully.

- A couple of street toughs were hanging around the corner looking for trouble.
- The local gang employed several toughs to intimidate shopkeepers into paying for protection.

### 6. to endure

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to stay strong and deal with a difficult situation until it ends.

For teachers: to endure a difficult period or situation; almost exclusively used in the phrasal verb 'tough it out'.

- It was a long, cold walk, but we decided to tough it out.
- Despite the falling stock prices, the investors decided to tough it out and wait for the market to recover.

Usage: Usually appears as 'tough it out'.

## Examples

- The steak is very tough and hard to chew.
- The manager had to make some tough decisions to save the company from closing.
- Growing up in a neglected neighborhood forced him to become tough at a young age, developing a resilience that served him well in his later career.

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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.