hard up

adjective

1
: short of money
2
: poorly provided
hard up for friends

Examples of hard up in a Sentence

despite being undeniably hard up, they had too much pride to accept charity
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the last two seasons, he’s figured out how to throw the ball hard up to left-handed hitters for weak contact and to their back foot for swing-and-miss. Tim Britton, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024 However, the typical Planet Organic shopper isn’t likely to be that hard up. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 July 2024 His family was so hard up that the future president was forced to drop out of school after the second grade in order to make money shining shoes. Jonathan Tepperman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2015 They’ve been hit particularly hard up front on offense and need youth. Brad Biggs, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hard up 

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hard up was in 1821

Dictionary Entries Near hard up

Cite this Entry

“Hard up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard%20up. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hard up

adjective
1
: short of money
2
: poorly provided
hard up for friends
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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