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.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Those changing hormones alter how your body reacts to itching.3 Anxiety or Depression People who often have a hard time sleeping may be more prone to anxiety or depression. Emily Shiffer, Health, 7 Mar. 2023 Palestinians have a hard time obtaining such permits because of a lack of zoning for construction in East Jerusalem and because of other Israeli land policies. Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023 In other words, even a handful of dissidents would still have a hard time pulling off a leadership coup. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 6 Jan. 2023 The 38-year-old will likely have a hard time landing a starting job with any team after hitting .242/.288/.360 with eight home runs in 146 games last year. John Perrotto, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2023 Erdogan remains popular among a significant share of Turks, who like his nationalist rhetoric, credit him with developing the country or simply have a hard time imagining anyone else in power. Ben Hubbard, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023 Nearly a third of people have a hard time accessing prescription contraception, and that number is even higher among Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, and other people of color. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 10 May 2023 Democrats have a hard time getting their coalition out. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 27 Apr. 2023 Some hunters have a hard time believing anyone who killed such a massive buck would not enter it in the record books to claim the title of having taken a world-record whitetail. Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2023 See More

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.

Dictionary Entries Near have a hard time

Cite this Entry

“Have a hard time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20a%20hard%20time. Accessed 6 Jun. 2023.

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