hard time
noun
a period of difficulties or hardship.
hard times
-
pluralof hard time.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Peck & Peck” is the name of the eponymous poetry magazine Batter has idolized since boyhood, but it’s fallen on hard times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
"These are very hard times," Anna Knodze, a 26-year-old architect, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
“Workers see the headlines, hear about their friends. Crucially they hear about workers having incredibly hard times getting back into jobs, which amplifies the risk of being laid off,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Tams said it "was not a case of somebody that had recently fallen on hard times".
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
“Although Airworld was never actually finished, because Atari fell on hard times and canceled the contest before it was completed.”
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
