difficulties - Master This Word

difficulties Word Meanings

• the state or condition of being hard to do
• a challenge or problem that needs to be overcome

difficulties Example Sentences

Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.

• I have difficulty with math.
• She faced difficulty in her job.
• He solved the problem with difficulty.
• They showed difficulty in understanding.
• We need help with this difficulty.

difficulties Word Etymology

(a) dis- (negative prefix) + facilis (Latin for 'easy'). (b) Originated from Latin 'difficilis', passed through Old French 'difficult' to Middle English 'difficulté'. (c) Imagine a steep, rocky mountain path labeled 'easy,' representing the contrast to the arduous climb ahead, reminding you of the 'difficulty' encountered on such a journey.

English Brain Route

Start by holding the page steady and move the corner of the worksheet with your finger. The task seems to push back, and I shift my focus from first ideas to a second plan. I feel a tight knot in my chest and I adjust my posture, keep my breath even, and pick a small step to try again. In real use, this routine comes up when a problem sticks, and I keep going, turning ideas into actions until it makes sense.

Real Context

Difficulty is the state or condition of being hard to achieve or do, and it also refers to a task or challenge that requires effort to overcome. In everyday speech we talk about physical, mental, or logistical obstacles, using phrases like 'with difficulty', 'to have difficulty doing something', or 'a difficulty arose'. The word can describe levels, problems, or barriers, and it appears in expressions such as 'a high/low level of difficulty' or 'overcome the difficulty'. Note that 'difficult' is an adjective, while 'difficulty' is the noun form. Understanding the context—whether you mean struggling with a task or the inherent complexity of a situation—helps choose the right collocations.

Usage Reminders

• 1) Difficulty is a noun; 2) use have difficulty in doing something or do something with difficulty; 3) avoid confusing with difficult; 4) talk about level of difficulty with high/low; 5) remember plural forms and common collocations

Common Misconceptions

• Difficulty = hard
• Difficulty always refers to mental effort
• You can say 'a difficultys'
• Difficulty cannot be used with plural nouns
• Confusing have difficulty with I have difficultyed

Thinking Differences

In English, difficulty as a noun is often used to describe both the general level of challenge and a specific obstacle. Learners tend to overemphasize mental effort or misplace phrases with in/doing; distinguishing it from the adjective difficult helps avoid errors with articles and plurals.

Learning Tips

• Learn the core noun forms: difficulty (singular/un), difficult (adj).
• Practice can/could have difficulty vs have difficulty in doing.
• Use 'level of difficulty' for comparisons, 'high/low' scales.
• Pair with common verbs: encounter, overcome, express, pose.
• Notice collocations: with difficulty, at a high level of difficulty, great/moderate difficulty.
• Read/listen for context cues that signal a challenge rather than a trait.

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