hard
hard Lexical Profile
hard Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced by pressure.
"The ancient oak table had a hard, polished surface that resisted scratches."
Requiring a great deal of physical or mental effort to accomplish, comprehend, or endure.
"The final calculus exam was surprisingly hard, challenging even the top students."
Strict, severe, or unfeeling in attitude, behavior, or treatment toward others.
"Try not to be so hard on yourself when you make an honest mistake."
Definitely established, factual, and verifiable rather than speculative or theoretical.
"The committee refused to alter the policy without hard evidence of its economic impact."
Containing a relatively high concentration of dissolved mineral salts such as calcium and magnesium (of water), or containing a high percentage of alcohol (of beverages).
"The region's hard water frequently leaves white mineral deposits inside household kettles."
• adverb
With a great deal of physical or mental effort, energy, or persistence.
"She studied hard for several months to pass the medical licensing examination."
With great force, vigor, or intensity.
"It rained hard throughout the night, causing the local river to overflow its banks."
Closely or immediately adjacent in space or time, or to the extreme limit of movement.
"The old stone cottage stood hard by the edge of the forest."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adverb, 'hard' means with great effort or intensity (e.g., "she worked hard"), whereas 'hardly' means scarcely or almost not at all (e.g., "she hardly worked").
• Rhymes for hard
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English heard, meaning solid, firm, or severe, descending from Proto-Germanic *harduz and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *kar-, meaning strong or powerful.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.