difficulty
The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
Noun
- The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
- My mom is old and has a lot of difficulty (in) remembering all her grandchildren's names.
- An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
- We faced a difficulty in trying to book a flight so late.
- The difficulties of photoheliography consist principally in the rapidity with which the sun's image acts upon the sensitive film. - 1860, Photographic news for amateur photographers, volumes 3-4, page 113:
- The two-hour debate was briefly stalled by a technical difficulty with the moderators’ microphones. - 2019 June 27, Lauren Gambino, “Democratic 2020 candidates clash on healthcare, immigration and economy in first...
Synonyms: trouble
- Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
- 2012 August 2, "Children rescued after getting into difficulties in Donegal" BBC Online
- The three teenagers, a girl and two boys, were playing by the river when it is believed they got into difficulty. - 2016 February 24, Catherine Shanahan, “Boy, 13, drowns after getting into difficulty in river”, in...
- Members of the public had called 999 as they were concerned the kayaker was in difficulty around the headland race due to very strong spring tides and choppy seas with the kayaker making no headway. - 2016 March 14,...
- An objection.
- That which cannot be easily understood or believed.
- An awkward situation or quarrel.
Origin
From Middle English difficulte, from Middle French and Anglo-Norman difficulte and their etymon Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult. Equivalent to dis- + facile + -ty. Also analysable as difficult + -y, though the adjective is historically a backformation from the noun.
Forms
Related
Derived
counterdifficulty difficulty level in difficulty learning difficulty personality difficulty technical difficulty with difficulty with great difficulty