problem
//ˈpɹɒbləm//
Forms
- Plural
- problems
- Comparative
- more problem
- Superlative
- most problem
Definitions
1.A difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with.
- She's leaving because she faced numerous problems to do with racism.
- Kate's very good with problems, Chief Inspector. Other people's, anyway.
- I think he has a gambling problem. Lending him money will probably only make it worse.
2.A question to be answered, schoolwork exercise.
- Study hard, but don't overdo it. The problems in the exam won't be difficult to solve.
3.A puzzling circumstance.
- I'm trying to work out this problem.
- The real problem is you don't even know we have a problem.
- We have the same problem.
4.Objection.
- You got a problem with that?
1.Of a person or an animal, difficult to train or guide; unruly.
2.Causing a problem; problematic; troublesome.
- It is more problem to my family than to me.
Frequency
Overall
Very common· #187
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Common
- General reading & writing
- Very common
- Academic
- Common
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English probleme, from Middle French probleme, from Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “anything thrown forward, hindrance, obstacle, anything projecting, a headland, promontory”), from προβάλλω (probállō, “to throw or lay something in front of someone, to put forward”), from προ- (pro-, “in front of”) + βάλλω (bállō, “to throw, to cast, to hurl”).