have a hard time
idiom
: to experience difficulty doing something
She's having a hard time living within her budget.
The school has had a hard time recruiting substitute teachers.
He's been having a hard time with his research paper.
Examples of have a hard time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The main camera has a hard time capturing detail, even in bright light, and shots are generally noisy.
—
PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
No one had a hard time making the personal connection on this.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
While many Blue Stem forms have a hard time standing up in the garden, ‘Standing Ovation’ stands tall.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 5 Apr. 2024
Most South Korean youths would also have a hard time relating to the elite education the two men received in both Koreas.
—Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Asia, who was in love with Alan before his death, has a hard time accepting her and is brusque and rude to her.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
What advice do specialists in hearing health have for older adults who have a hard time using their hearing aids?
—Judith Graham, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024
Publishers have a hard time getting their books approved.
—Li Yuan, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The 60-acre development — a combination of restaurants, shopping and a museum at 135th Street between Lamar and Nall avenues — has had a hard time for years meeting lofty sales projections set when Overland Park and Kansas approved the state incentives.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
No one had a hard time making the personal connection on this.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
While many Blue Stem forms have a hard time standing up in the garden, ‘Standing Ovation’ stands tall.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 5 Apr. 2024
Most South Korean youths would also have a hard time relating to the elite education the two men received in both Koreas.
—Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Asia, who was in love with Alan before his death, has a hard time accepting her and is brusque and rude to her.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
What advice do specialists in hearing health have for older adults who have a hard time using their hearing aids?
—Judith Graham, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024
Publishers have a hard time getting their books approved.
—Li Yuan, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The 60-acre development — a combination of restaurants, shopping and a museum at 135th Street between Lamar and Nall avenues — has had a hard time for years meeting lofty sales projections set when Overland Park and Kansas approved the state incentives.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'have a hard time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Have a hard time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20a%20hard%20time. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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