hard

/hɑrd/
adverb
  1. With a lot of effort or force.
    • He hit the ball hard and it flew over the fence.
    • They worked hard all summer to save money.
    • She studied hard for the final exam.
  2. With difficulty or pain.
    • She took the news hard and cried for hours.
    • He fell hard on the ice and broke his arm.
    • The old horse breathed hard after the long ride.
adjective
  1. Firm and solid; not easy to bend, cut, or break.
    • The diamond is one of the hardest materials on Earth.
    • She sat on the hard wooden bench and waited.
    • The ground was hard after the long drought.
  2. Difficult to do, understand, or deal with.
    • The math test was very hard for most students.
    • He faced a hard decision about his career.
    • It's hard to learn a new language as an adult.
  3. Requiring a lot of effort, energy, or work.
    • She put in a hard day's work at the construction site.
    • Running a marathon is hard work.
    • They had a long, hard journey through the mountains.
  4. Showing no kindness or sympathy; severe.
    • Life can be hard for people who lose their jobs.
    • Her father was a hard man who rarely smiled.
    • The teacher gave him a hard look when he was late.
  5. Containing a lot of alcohol or drugs; strong.
    • The police are cracking down on hard drugs.
    • He only drinks hard liquor like whiskey or vodka.
    • She ordered a hard cider at the bar.
noun
  1. A difficult or unpleasant situation or period.
    • They endured the hard of winter without heat.
    • The team faced a series of hard times during the recession.
    • He knew the hard was just beginning after the accident.