hard

Less common meanings

8. 8
   adjective

   Used about a hit, kick, or shot that is done with a lot of force.

   He gave the ball a hard kick, and it flew over the fence.

   The boxer took a hard punch to the chin.

   Similarpowerful, heavy, strong, forceful

   Oppositesoft, gentle, light

9. 9
   adjective

   Definite and solid, that cannot be argued with, as in hard evidence.

   The police had no hard evidence against him.

   Give me hard numbers, not guesses.

   UsageOften used in hard facts, hard evidence, a hard deadline, and a hard no.

   Similarunquestionable, unequivocal, unambiguous, indubitable, incontrovertible

   Oppositesoft, questionable, uncertain, flexible

   Note
10. 10
    adverb

    With difficulty, as in a hard-won victory.

    The money was hard earned.

    Every yard of ground was hard won.

    UsageWrite a hard-won prize, with a hyphen.

    Similardearly, fiercely, arduously

    Oppositeeasily, cheaply

    Note
11. 11
    made alcoholicadjective

    Of a drink that is usually soft, made with alcohol, as in hard cider.

    They sell hard cider at the farm stand.

    She cracked open a hard seltzer.

    UsageHard cider or hard seltzer just has alcohol. Hard liquor means strong drinks like whisky.

    Similaralcoholic

    Oppositenon-alcoholic, alcohol-free, soft

    Note
12. 12
    strong stuffadjective

    Of drink or drugs, strong, with a lot of alcohol or a powerful effect.

    Whisky and gin are hard liquor.

    The clinic treats people hooked on hard drugs.

    UsageThe hard stuff means strong drinks like whisky.

    Similarstrong

    Oppositesoft

    Note
13. 13
    mineral-richadjective

    Of water, containing a lot of dissolved minerals, so soap lathers badly.

    The water here is hard and furs up the kettle.

    Hard water leaves white marks on the glasses.

    Oppositesoft

    Note
14. 14
    ready to fightadjectiveslang

    Tough and not to be messed with, in slang, as in he thinks he's hard.

    The new kid acts hard but he's harmless.

    You're not as hard as you look.

    UsageHe thinks he's hard can mock someone who acts tough.

    Similartough, fierce, formidable, rough, dangerous

    Oppositesoft, weak, timid

    Note
15. 15
    arousedadjectiveslangvulgar

    Of a man, sexually aroused, with an erection, a vulgar slang use.

    He was embarrassed to be hard in the changing room.

    The scene left him hard.

    Similarerect, aroused, stiff

    Oppositesoft, flaccid

16. 16
    manual resetadjective

    Done by a physical action like cutting the power, not by a software command.

    Hold the button for a hard reset.

    A hard reboot wiped the unsaved work.

    Similarforced, manual, cold

    Oppositesoft, warm

    Note
17. 17
    sharp turnadjective

    Of a turn at a junction, sharp, at a right angle or more, as in a hard left.

    Take the hard left after the bridge, not the fork.

    The road makes a hard right at the church.

    UsageUsed in directions: take a hard left, make a hard right (the opposite is a slight turn).

    Similarsharp, tight

    Oppositegentle, slight, soft

    Note
18. 18
    extreme (politics)adjective

    In politics, extreme, at the far end of the left or the right.

    The hard right gained seats in the election.

    She was on the hard left of the party.

    UsageUse the hard left or the hard right when naming a political group.

    Similarfar, extreme, radical, militant, uncompromising

    Oppositesoft, moderate, mainstream

    Note
19. 19
    adverb

    Firmly and solidly, all the way through, as in frozen hard.

    The lake had frozen hard by December.

    Pack the snow hard before you build.

    UsageSay the ground froze hard or the glue set hard.

    Similarsolid, firm, solidly

    Note
20. 20
    consonantadjective

    Used about a consonant sound made by stopping the air and then letting it out, like the c in cake.

    The letter c in cake has a hard sound.

    Say gate with a hard g, not like the g in giant.

    Similarplosive

    Oppositesoft

    Note
21. 21
    adjectiveslang

    Excellent or impressive, in slang, as in this song goes hard.

    That beat goes hard.

    His new jacket is hard.

    Similarsick, fire, dope, cool, awesome

    Oppositelame, weak, wack

    Note
22. 22
    adjectivedated

    Too strong to resist or control, an old use, as in too hard for them.

    The stag was too hard for the horse.

    1692, Roger L’Estrange, FablesHere, too hard for means too strong for, so the stag beat the horse.

    a power which will be always too hard for them

    1716, Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 24. Monday, March 12. [1716.]”Here, too hard for them means too strong for them to resist or control.

    Similarstrong, powerful, formidable, mighty

    Oppositeweak, feeble

    Note
23. 23
    prison labornounslanguncountable

    A prison sentence of hard labor, in slang, as in three years' hard.

    Long ago, my great-grandfather got three years' hard for stealing sheep.

    My great-grandfather served ten years' hard and never talked about it.

    Note
24. 24
    explicitadjective

    Of pornography, hardcore, showing sex acts explicitly rather than suggesting them.

    The store sells hard porn only to adults who show ID.

    Hard pornography was banned under the old law.

    Similarexplicit, graphic, X-rated

    Oppositesoft, softcore

    Note
25. 25
    direct lightadjective

    Of light in photography, coming from a small or distant source and casting sharp shadows.

    Noon sun is hard light, unkind to faces.

    A bare flash gives hard, flat lighting.

    Similarharsh, direct, sharp

    Oppositesoft, diffuse

    Note
26. 26
    close byadverbarchaic

    Close beside something, only a short way off.

    Our cabin stood hard by the lake, so we could hear the water at night.

    It was another long day's march before they glimpsed the towers of Harrenhal in the distance, hard beside the blue waters of the lake.

    1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of KingsHere, hard beside means close beside, only a short way from the water.

    Note
27. 27
    adjective

    In bodybuilding, with muscles made firm and defined by hard training.
28. 28
    adjective

    Describes a consonant sound made with a strong push of air and tight mouth muscles.
29. 29
    adjective

    Of wine, harsh with acid or tannin, not smooth.
30. 30
    adjective

    Of radiation such as X-rays, high in energy, with short wavelengths that go through more.
31. 31
    adjective

    Of a magnetic material, able to stay magnetized and act as a permanent magnet.
32. 32
    nounslang

    Crack cocaine, in street slang, as against powder.
33. 33
    adjective

    In military use, protected by strong defenses, as in a hard target.
34. 34
    adjective

    Of a market, with buyers chasing sellers, so prices rise, as in insurance.
35. 35
    adjective

    Of a sound, said without using the voice, like p or t.
36. 36
    adjective

    Of a sound in some languages, said without a soft y-like quality.
37. 37
    adjective

    Of a picture, stiff and awkward, with no grace.
38. 38
    adjective

    Having sharp, unpleasant changes in color or shade.
39. 39
    adjective

    Of silk, still stiff with its natural gum.
40. 40
    adverbobsolete

    In a way that makes things difficult.

    The question is hard set.

    1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica
41. 41
    noun

    A hard area on a shore where boats are pulled out of the water.
42. 42
    noun

    A racing car tire firmer than a medium but softer than a superhard.
43. 43
    verbobsolete

    To make something firm.

    He knows vain men: he sees their harts that hard them In Guiles and Wiles, and will not hee regard them?

    1641, original 1618, Guillaume de Saluste Du Bartas