rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydifficultyBeing hard to do
noun

difficulty

DIF-ih-kul-tee/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/

The need for effort to accomplish or understand something.

She has difficulty pulling the loaded hand truck up the step.

A woman struggles to move a hand truck carrying a plain heavy crate up a doorstep: its wheels are visibly blocked against the raised edge, and she braces herself while pulling the handles.
Etymology
difLatinnot
+ficulLatineasy to do
+tyLatinstate or quality

The pieces express the state of being 'not easy to do.' The word extended from the quality that makes something laborious or perplexing to a particular problem or obstacle.

In context

Center for Strategic & International Studies45:26
we made some great progress I think we should not underestimate the difficulty of president mushara after 911 being called upon to make a strategic shift
Statesmen's Forum: Stephen Hadley

More examples

  • I have difficulty understanding his explanation.
  • The difficulty of the puzzle surprises me.
  • We run into difficulties when the roads flood.

Forms

difficulty · difficulties

difficult adjective — Requiring considerable effort to do or understand.

Similar words

trouble
Often emphasizes problems or inconvenience rather than required effort.
challenge
Emphasizes a demanding task that tests someone's abilities.