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
If your skin begins looking red or pink, your body may be having a hard time keeping up, a good indicator to take a break in the shade.
—
Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
But over the course of nine innings and a few beers, there is plenty of time to catch up, joke around, give each other a hard time.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Some are having a hard time paying their rent, and others can’t afford child care.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Was going through a hard time last year and picked a card that honestly resonated with me so well in the moment.
—Maggie Penman The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard time
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Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
But over the course of nine innings and a few beers, there is plenty of time to catch up, joke around, give each other a hard time.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Some are having a hard time paying their rent, and others can’t afford child care.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Was going through a hard time last year and picked a card that honestly resonated with me so well in the moment.
—Maggie Penman The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
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 2 Apr. 2026.
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