Difficulty
ˈdɪfɪkəlti
Definitions
2 meaningsThe state or condition of being difficult; something that is hard to do or deal with.
ˈdɪfɪkəlti
A thing that is hard to do or understand.
She overcame many difficulties to achieve her goals.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to build a Lego castle. The difficulty is the challenge you face, like finding the right bricks or figuring out the instructions. It's any problem that makes something hard.
👶 For kids: When something is hard to do, like tying your shoes or solving a puzzle, that's a difficulty!
More Examples
The project presented significant difficulties due to lack of funding.
We encountered several difficulties during the construction phase.
How It's Used
"He faced many difficulties in his life."
"The difficulty of the exam was unexpected."
"I'm having difficulty understanding this concept."
A person or thing that causes problems or is hard to deal with. (Informal usage)
ˈdɪfɪkəlti
A person or thing that causes trouble.
Her stubbornness was a constant difficulty for the team.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, a person or a thing can be a 'difficulty' – like a friend who always complicates plans.
👶 For kids: A difficulty can also be a person or thing that's a bit of a bother.
More Examples
That broken machine is a real difficulty.
How It's Used
"He's a real difficulty to work with."
Idioms & expressions
to have difficulty
To find something hard to do or understand.
"I had difficulty understanding his explanation."
without difficulty
Easily; without any problems.
"She passed the test without difficulty."
From Middle English `difficulte`, from Old French `difficulte`, from Latin `difficultas`, from `difficilis` ('difficult'), from `dis-` ('apart') + `facilis` ('easy').
The word 'difficulty' has been used in English since the 14th century, initially reflecting a sense of hardship or adversity.
Memory tip
Think of the 'difficult' part as the obstacle; the 'difficulty' is the whole problem.
Word Origin
"difficult (from dis- apart + facilis easy)"