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⇱ problem - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


problem

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈprɒbləm/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈprɑbləm/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(probləm)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
prob•lem /ˈprɑbləm/USA pronunciation  n. [countable]
  1. any question or matter involving doubt or difficulty:has financial and emotional problems.
  2. a statement requiring a solution, usually by means of mathematical operations:simple problems in addition.

adj. [before a noun]
  1. unwilling to cooperate;
    unruly:a problem child.
Idioms
  1. no problem, (is used to express the speaker's willingness to do something):"Can you come to the meeting tomorrow?'' —"No problem.''


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
prob•lem  (probləm),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty.
  2. a question proposed for solution or discussion.
  3. [Math.]a statement requiring a solution, usually by means of a mathematical operation or geometric construction.
  4. no problem, (used as a conventional reply to a request or to express confirmation, affirmation, or gratitude).

adj. 
  1. difficult to train or guide;
    unruly:a problem child.
  2. [Literature.]dealing with choices of action difficult either for an individual or for society at large:a problem play.
  • Greek próblēma origin, originally, obstacle, (akin to probállein to throw or lay before), equivalent. to pro- pro-2 + -blē-, variant stem of bállein to throw (compare parabola) + -ma noun, nominal suffix of result
  • Latin problēma
  • Middle English probleme 1350–1400
    1. 2. puzzle, riddle, enigma.
    1. certitude.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
problem /ˈprɒbləm/ n
    • any thing, matter, person, etc, that is difficult to deal with, solve, or overcome
    • (as modifier): a problem child
  1. a puzzle, question, etc, set for solution
  2. a statement requiring a solution usually by means of one or more operations or geometric constructions
  3. (modifier) designating a literary work that deals with difficult moral questions: a problem play
Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin problēma, from Greek: something put forward; related to proballein to throw forwards, from pro-2 + ballein to throw
'problem' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: [back, leg, shoulder] problems, problem-solving, [legal, financial, relationship, business, technical, health, emotional] problems, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "problem" in the title:

"... to (ravel-unravel) the problem ..."
........you wouldn't have this problem now
....problem<has become><is becoming>more serious
...and that's my problem
...know how to solve this problem
..is so difficult a problem that I can’t solve
..well aware of what a terrible problem China is faced with.
'approach the problem in general rather than in small details
'By which' problem
'less a problem' or 'less problem'
'Many a problem' with inversion
'may' that problem not stop you
'no problem, anyway'
'Only recently the problem has been solved' or 'Only recently has the problem been solved'?
'problem' as a verb
'time' - translation problem
'When and where' predicate problem.
‘Another power problem is more literal.’
‘just as common a problem is’
problem” plus “-ing” form
“They discussed if they could settle the problem without other's help."
“to go about a problem” vs “to tackle a problem
“What is the problem with that,” you may ask. [punctuation?]
[IELTS] In filling the blank problem, a / the
10 less dollars won't be a problem for you
A 'such as' problem
a bit of a problem
A comma use problem
a CV problem - a trip to London
A decision problem stages an agent...
more...

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