[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/difficulty/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / difficulty

# difficulty

noun (a difficulty, difficulties; also uncountable)

«difficulty» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. How hard something is to do or understand (the level of difficulty). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#m1)
2. A problem or a thing that is hard to deal with. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#m2)
3. Trouble or worry, especially about money («in difficulty», «financial difficulties»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#m3)
4. «With difficulty»: in a way that takes a lot of effort. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#m4)

### In the lessons

In school, the difficulty of questions or levels; in sport and games, difficulty settings. In stories, characters face difficulties. In safety, a swimmer in difficulty needs help. Phrases: «have difficulty (in) doing», «with difficulty», «in difficulty», «without difficulty».

### Examples

- The questions go up in difficulty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#x1)
- I had difficulty finding the answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#x2)
- He climbed the tree with difficulty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#x3)
- The lifeguard helped a swimmer in difficulty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#x4)
- The family faced many difficulties. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#x5)
- She passed the test without difficulty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#x6)
- The game has three difficulty levels: easy, medium and hard. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#x7)
- The difficulty is which one to choose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/#x8)

### Note

Countable (difficulties = problems) and uncountable (difficulty = how hard). «Have difficulty + -ing»: I have difficulty reading. Adjective «difficult». In safety: if someone is in difficulty in water, call for help and do not jump in yourself.

## In Jewish tradition

In school, the difficulty of questions or levels; in sport and games, difficulty settings. In stories, characters face difficulties. In safety, a swimmer in difficulty needs help. Phrases: «have difficulty (in) doing», «with difficulty», «in difficulty», «without difficulty».

### Examples

- Some late editors to cover the difficulty of this passage, have given SPR, SPUR, SIPR, pointing them to read Separ, Seepur, Saypar. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difficulty/#x1)
- Rittangelius always gives " praeter illud ineffabile." Pistorius gives '\* praeter ineffabile." Postellus evades the difficulty and simply puts the word Belimah into his Latin trans- lation. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difficulty/#x2)
- I therefore hope that the candid reader will consider the great difficulties I had to overcome in this still unbeaten way of the ancient Jewish spiritual region, and will receive with indulgence this new contribution to archaeological knowledge. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difficulty/#x3)

### Note

Countable (difficulties = problems) and uncountable (difficulty = how hard). «Have difficulty + -ing»: I have difficulty reading. Adjective «difficult». In safety: if someone is in difficulty in water, call for help and do not jump in yourself.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «difficulty» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/difficulty/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«difficulty» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/difficulty.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «difficulty» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/difficulty/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«difficulty» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/difficulty.html) on Mova free.