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difficulty
/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/
It describes a friction between a goal and the effort required to reach it. Unlike 'problem', which often implies a puzzle to be solved, 'difficulty' emphasizes the struggle or the taxing nature of the process. When used in the singular ('a difficulty'), it refers to a specific obstacle or hurdle. When used as an abstract concept ('with difficulty'), it describes the quality of the effort—often suggesting a sense of strain, labor, or lack of ease. It is neutral in tone but often carries a weight of frustration or persistence depending on the context. In professional settings, 'difficulty' is frequently used to soften the blow of a failure or a complication (e.g., "experiencing technical difficulties") compared to more blunt terms like 'disaster' or 'error'.
💬Casual Conversation
CHLOE I AM HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY WITH THE FACEBOOK.
Grandma, just chill. I'll swing by later and sort it out for you.
Meanings
Examples
The main difficulty was the cost.
He spoke with some difficulty.
We encountered a difficulty.
Look, I'm having real difficulty trusting you right now!
Is there some difficulty with the credit card, ma'am?
I'm having a lot of difficulty booting this laptop up.
Listen, the only difficulty here is your terrible attitude!
Why is there such difficulty just signing this one form?
I've had some difficulty meeting the quarterly targets, honestly.
Collocations & Compounds
experience difficulty
To encounter problems or challenges.
Many users experience difficulty logging in.
cause difficulty
To create a problem or obstacle for someone.
The bad weather will cause difficulty for travelers.
difficulty level
The degree of challenge presented by a task or game.
This game has a high difficulty level.
avoid difficulty
To steer clear of hard or problematic situations.
He tried to avoid difficulty by staying quiet.
surmount difficulty
To successfully overcome an obstacle or challenge.
She managed to surmount difficulty through sheer willpower.
Idioms & Sayings
in difficulty
In a situation where you are experiencing problems or trouble.
The company found itself in difficulty after the scandal.
make heavy weather of something / make difficulty of something
To make something seem more difficult than it really is.
He's just making difficulty of a simple task.
Etymology
The word 'difficulty' entered the English language in the late 14th century, derived from the Old French 'difficulte' and directly from the Latin 'difficultas'. This Latin word itself is formed from 'difficilis', meaning 'hard to do, difficult', which is a combination of the prefix 'dis-' (meaning 'apart' or 'not') and 'facilis' (meaning 'easy'). The root 'facilis' comes from the Proto-Indo-European root 'dheie-' or 'dhaie-', meaning 'to set, put, place'. Initially, 'difficulty' was used to describe a state of being hard to accomplish or understand. Over time, its usage expanded to encompass the challenges or obstacles encountered in such tasks. The transition from Latin through French to English reflects a common pattern in the development of English vocabulary, particularly words related to abstract concepts and scholarly pursuits, which were often borrowed from Romance languages due to their historical influence.