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
Wade was not wearing a PFD, one of the details about their son’s disappearance that Wade’s parents had a hard time believing.
—
Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
Devin Mason doesn’t have a hard time talking about getting laid off.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2025
The party has also had a hard time eliminating corruption.
—Mireya Solís, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Even with Poseidon’s easy-to-use technology, Khawaja had a hard time getting American fishermen to try it out.
—Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for have a hard time
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Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
Devin Mason doesn’t have a hard time talking about getting laid off.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2025
The party has also had a hard time eliminating corruption.
—Mireya Solís, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Even with Poseidon’s easy-to-use technology, Khawaja had a hard time getting American fishermen to try it out.
—Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 8 Sep. 2025.
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