barely: Anastasia could barely remember the ride to the hospital.
scarcely: He could scarcely breathe.
only just: You're only just back from leave.
ha rd-no sed ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use hard-nosed to describe someone who is tough and realistic, and who takes decisions on practical grounds rather than emotional ones. [INFORMAL ] □ If nothing else, Doug is a hard-nosed businessman.
ha rd of hea r|ing ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is hard of hearing is not able to hear properly.
ha rd po rn N‑UNCOUNT Hard porn is pornography that shows sex in a very detailed way, or shows very violent or unpleasant sex.
ha rd-pre ssed also hard pressed
1 ADJ If someone is hard-pressed , they are under a great deal of strain and worry, usually because they have not got enough money. [JOURNALISM ] □ The region's hard-pressed consumers are spending less on luxuries.
2 ADJ If you will be hard-pressed to do something, you will have great difficulty doing it. □ This year the airline will be hard-pressed to make a profit.
ha rd ri ght also hard-right N‑SING [oft N n] You use hard right to describe those members of a right wing political group or party who have the most extreme political beliefs. [mainly BRIT ] □ …the appearance of hard-right political groupings. in AM, usually use far right
ha rd se ll N‑SING [oft N n] A hard sell is a method of selling in which the salesperson puts a lot of pressure on someone to make them buy something. □ …a double-glazing firm whose hard-sell techniques were exposed by a consumer programme.
hard|ship /hɑː r dʃ I p/ (hardships ) N‑VAR Hardship is a situation in which your life is difficult or unpleasant, often because you do not have enough money. □ Many people are suffering economic hardship. □ One of the worst hardships is having so little time to spend with one's family.
ha rd shou l|der (hard shoulders ) N‑COUNT The hard shoulder is the area at the side of a motorway or other road where you are allowed to stop if your car breaks down. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use shoulder
ha rd u p also hard-up ADJ If you are hard up , you have very little money. [INFORMAL ] □ Her parents were very hard up.
hard|ware /hɑː r dweə r /
1 N‑UNCOUNT In computer systems, hardware refers to the machines themselves as opposed to the programs which tell the machines what to do. Compare software .
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu adj N ] Military hardware is the machinery and equipment that is used by the armed forces, such as tanks, aircraft, and missiles.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Hardware refers to tools and equipment that are used in the home and garden, for example saucepans, screwdrivers, and lawnmowers.
ha rd|ware store (hardware stores ) N‑COUNT A hardware store is a shop where articles for the house and garden such as tools, nails, and pans are sold.
ha rd-wea ring also hard wearing ADJ Something that is hard-wearing is strong and well-made so that it lasts for a long time and stays in good condition even though it is used a lot. [mainly BRIT ] □ …hard-wearing cotton shirts. in AM, use long-wearing
ha rd-wi red also hardwired
1 ADJ A hard-wired part of a computer forms part of its hardware.
2 ADJ If an ability, approach, or type of activity is hard-wired into the brain, it is a basic one and cannot be changed. □ Others think that the rules for what is 'musical' are hard-wired in our brains to some degree.
ha rd-wo n ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something that someone has gained or achieved as hard-won , you mean that they worked hard to gain or achieve it. □ The dispute could destroy Australia's hard-won reputation for industrial stability.
hard|wood /hɑː r dwʊd/ (hardwoods ) N‑VAR [oft N n] Hardwood is wood such as oak, teak, and mahogany, which is very strong and hard. □ …hardwood floors.
ha rd-wo rking also hardworking ADJ If you describe someone as hard-working , you mean that they work very hard. □ He was hardworking and energetic.
har|dy /hɑː r di/ (hardier , hardiest )
1 ADJ Plants that are hardy are able to survive cold weather. □ The silver-leaved varieties of cyclamen are not quite as hardy. ● har|di|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …the hardiness of other species that have blue flowers.
2 ADJ People and animals that are hardy are strong and able to cope with difficult conditions. □ It should not surprise us that such an environment has produced a hardy and independent people. ● har|di|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …the hardiness, endurance, and courage of my companions.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a group of people as hardy , you mean that they have been very patient or loyal, or have been trying hard to do something in difficult conditions. □ …the ten hardy supporters who had made the trek to Dublin from Riga.
hare /heə r / (hares , haring , hared )
1 N‑VAR A hare is an animal like a rabbit but larger with long ears, long legs, and a small tail.
2 VERB If you hare off somewhere, you go there very quickly. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V adv/prep] …an over-protective mother who keeps haring off to ring the babysitter.
ha re-brained also harebrained ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use hare-brained to describe a scheme or theory which you consider to be very foolish and which you think is unlikely to be successful or true. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ This isn't the first hare-brained scheme he's had.
har|em /hɑː riː m, [AM ] he rəm/ (harems ) N‑COUNT If a man, especially a Muslim, has several wives or sexual partners living in his house, they can be referred to as his harem .