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
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.
In organizations, people with deep knowledge often have a hard time explaining their expertise to someone outside their discipline. Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 Wesley has a hard time keeping up, and quite frankly is on the precipice of losing his job at the garage. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 June 2026 Even plants that thrive in heat and humidity may have a hard time in a hot car due to sunscorch. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 June 2026 And after maybe kids in the class have given her a hard time. Marlow Stern, Variety, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard time

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hard time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard%20time. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster