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
Those who rely too heavily on the stock market—rather than establishing a diversified portfolio with less risk—can have a hard time achieving stability.
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Aaron Cirksena, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
But if someone experiences severe anxiety and has a hard time completing smaller asks, Travers suggests working with a mental health professional instead of forcing yourself to complete the social media challenge.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
Moen says that people who aren't physically fit may have a hard time doing physical activities vigorously – and may risk injury when doing so.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
Despite Boeing’s major slowdown, prompted by the blowout of a door plug on a Boeing 737 Max 9 back in January and subsequent intense regulatory scrutiny, Airbus has had a hard time seizing on the opportunity to widen its lead against its closest rival.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for have a hard time 
Aaron Cirksena, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
But if someone experiences severe anxiety and has a hard time completing smaller asks, Travers suggests working with a mental health professional instead of forcing yourself to complete the social media challenge.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
Moen says that people who aren't physically fit may have a hard time doing physical activities vigorously – and may risk injury when doing so.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
Despite Boeing’s major slowdown, prompted by the blowout of a door plug on a Boeing 737 Max 9 back in January and subsequent intense regulatory scrutiny, Airbus has had a hard time seizing on the opportunity to widen its lead against its closest rival.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for have a hard time
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'have a hard time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Have a hard time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20a%20hard%20time. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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