hard time
noun
US
: a long or difficult prison sentence
He could be facing hard time for his crimes.
Examples of hard time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In an interview with The Associated Press, Jones said families are having a hard time with things like health care, energy bills and simply making ends meet.
—
Kim Chandler, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025
Here, Southern designers highlight five paint colors in particular that have given them a hard time.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025
Nature is healing Unlike in other works of post-apocalyptic fiction, however, Earth doesn't stop spinning because humanity is having a hard time.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Just stay within your lane and don’t give anybody a hard time.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard time
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kim Chandler, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025
Here, Southern designers highlight five paint colors in particular that have given them a hard time.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025
Nature is healing Unlike in other works of post-apocalyptic fiction, however, Earth doesn't stop spinning because humanity is having a hard time.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Just stay within your lane and don’t give anybody a hard time.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard time
Cite this Entry
“Hard time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard%20time. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share