- [countable, usually plural, uncountable] a problem; a thing or situation that causes problems
- the difficulties of English syntax
- a patient with breathing difficulties
- They encountered numerous difficulties while making the film.
- She had been experiencing technical difficulties.
- I think we've managed to overcome most of the practical difficulties.
- I know the kinds of difficulties faced by parents and teachers.
- difficulties with something We've run into difficulties with the new project.
- difficulty with something I'm having difficulty with the engine.
- in difficulties He was often in financial difficulties.
- in difficulty He got into difficulty while swimming and had to be rescued.
- It was a time fraught with difficulties and frustration.
Extra ExamplesTopics Difficulty and failureb1- Anyone experiencing difficulty with radio reception should call us on the new helpline.
- Despite all the difficulties, he still remains optimistic.
- Difficulties arise when people fail to consult their colleagues.
- English spelling presents special difficulties for foreign learners.
- Let me know if you have any difficulties.
- Life in the city was not without its difficulties.
- Please report any difficulties to the help desk.
- She is always making difficulties for herself.
- Some companies are already in difficulty.
- Some companies are getting into difficulty.
- The difficulty lies in identifying the precise nature of the problem.
- The plan has run into serious difficulties.
- The situation was fraught with difficulty.
- We could see that the swimmer was in difficulties.
- Will it cause any difficulties if I go early?
- The drug is used to treat breathing difficulties caused by asthma.
- There are technical difficulties involved in filming on location.
- Commuters face the daily difficulty of getting to work on time.
- the difficulties inherent in treating overdose patients
- The project has been fraught with difficulties from the start.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- enormous
- extreme
- …
- level
- encounter
- experience
- face
- …
- arise
- lie (in something)
- despite a/the difficulty
- in difficulty
- with difficulty
- …
- [uncountable] the state or quality of being hard to do or to understand; the effort that something involves
- difficulty (in) doing something I had considerable difficulty (in) persuading her to leave.
- I had no difficulty (in) making myself understood.
- with difficulty He spoke slowly and with great difficulty.
- The changes were made with surprisingly little difficulty.
- without difficulty We found the house without difficulty.
- difficulty of doing something They discussed the difficulty of studying abroad.
Extra Examples- I had little difficulty in persuading the others to come.
- She had difficulty in starting her car.
- He has a great deal of difficulty concentrating on schoolwork.
- We crossed the border without any difficulty.
- We had enormous difficulty in getting hold of the right equipment.
- the difficulty of finding affordable accommodation
- We were delayed owing to the difficulty of the conditions.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- enormous
- extreme
- …
- level
- encounter
- experience
- face
- …
- arise
- lie (in something)
- despite a/the difficulty
- in difficulty
- with difficulty
- …
- [uncountable] how hard something is
- Both roles had a high degree of difficulty.
- The games have varying levels of difficulty.
- questions of increasing difficulty
- The walks in the book vary in difficulty.
Extra Examples- You can choose the level of difficulty at the start of the game.
- This increases the difficulty of the shot.
- The number of points scored depends on the difficulty of the item.
- They succeeded despite the difficulty of the task.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- enormous
- extreme
- …
- level
- encounter
- experience
- face
- …
- arise
- lie (in something)
- despite a/the difficulty
- in difficulty
- with difficulty
- …
Word Originlate Middle English (in the senses ‘requiring effort or skill’ and ‘something difficult’): from Latin difficultas, from dis- (expressing reversal) + facultas ‘ability, opportunity’.
Check pronunciation:
difficulty