hard

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: häd, IPA ^(key): /hɑːd/
• (US) enPR: häd, IPA ^(key): /hɑrd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: heart (in some dialects)

Adjective

Positive hard

Comparative harder

Superlative hardest

1. If something is hard, it is not soft.

   I kicked the wall and hurt my foot. The wall is hard.

2. If something is hard, it takes a lot of work to do or understand.

   Only two people passed the test because it was so hard.

3. If something is hard, it is sudden and sharp.

   He took a hard hit to his arm.

4. If a drink is hard, it is strong.

   Hard liquor

5. If something is hard, it cannot be questioned; it is not questionable.

   Hard evidence

6. If someone is hard, they are severe; they are unfriendly.

Synonyms

• (not soft): firm, resistant, inflexible, solid
• (not easy): difficult, uneasy, challenging, tricky, tough
• (sudden and sharp): sudden, sharp
• (not questionable): unquestionable, indubitable
• (severe): severe, harsh, brutal, unfriendly
• (of drink): strong

Antonyms

• (not soft): soft, flexible
• (not easy): easy, simple, a breeze
• (sudden and sharp): slow
• (severe): agreeable, friendly, nice, pleasant

Related words

Terms related to hard

die-hard hard-ass hardboard hard-boiled hard candy hard case hard copy hardcore hard disk/hard disc hard drink harden hard feelings hard hat hard head hard-hearted

hard-hitting hardily hard labor hard-liner hard lines hardness hard-on hard-pressed hard times hard up hardware hard water hard-wire hardwood hard work

Adverb

Positive hard

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. If something is done hard, it is done with a lot of effort.

   He works hard, all day and all night.

Antonyms

• lazily

Noun

Singular hard

Plural hards

1. (countable) (nautical) A hard is a beach or slope that is firm that is a good place to take a boat out of the water.

Synonyms

• boat landing