Definitions for Problem
ˈprɒb ləmprob·lem

Princeton's WordNet(3.25 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. problem, jobnoun

   a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

   "she and her husband are having problems"; "it is always a job to contact him"; "urban problems such as traffic congestion and smog"

2. problemnoun

   a question raised for consideration or solution

   "our homework consisted of ten problems to solve"

3. trouble, problemnoun

   a source of difficulty

   "one trouble after another delayed the job"; "what's the problem?"

Wiktionary(3.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. problemnoun

   A difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with.

2. problemnoun

   A question to be answered, schoolwork exercise.

3. problemnoun

   A puzzling circumstance.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. PROBLEMnoun

   A question proposed.

   Etymology: probleme, Fr. πϱόβλημα.

   The problem is, whether a man constantly and strongly believing, that such a thing shall be, it doth help any thing to the effecting of the thing. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist.

   Although in general one understood colours, yet were it not an easy problem to resolve, why grass is green? Brown.

   This problem let philosophers resolve,
   What makes the globe from West to East revolve. Richard Blackmore.

Webster Dictionary(3.75 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Problemnoun

   a question proposed for solution; a matter stated for examination or proof; hence, a matter difficult of solution or settlement; a doubtful case; a question involving doubt

2. Problemnoun

   anything which is required to be done; as, in geometry, to bisect a line, to draw a perpendicular; or, in algebra, to find an unknown quantity

3. Etymology: [F. problme, L. problema, fr. Gr. anything thrown forward, a question proposed for solution, fr. to throw or lay before; before, forward + to throw. Cf. Parable. ]

Freebase(3.67 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Problem

   A problem is the relation between human will and reality. When will and reality do not coincide, the resolution of this gap between reality and will is the solution of the problem. A problem implies a desired outcome coupled with an apparent deficiency, doubt or inconsistency that prevents the outcome from taking place.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Problem

   prob′lem, n. a matter difficult of settlement or solution: (geom.) a proposition in which something is required to be done.—adjs. Problemat′ic, -al, of the nature of a problem: questionable: doubtful.—adv. Problemat′ically.—v.i. Prob′lematise. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. problēma—pro, before, ballein, to throw.]

Suggested Resources(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. problem

   Quotes by problem -- Explore a large variety of famous quotes made by problem on the Quotes.net website.

2. problem

   Song lyrics by problem -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by problem on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Difficulty
   • Question

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Problem' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #310

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Problem' in Written Corpus Frequency: #298

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Problem' in Nouns Frequency: #23

How to pronounce Problem?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Problem in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Problem in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Problem in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of Problem in a Sentence

1. Somsak Piriyayota:

   The issue today is how do we change that land for shrimp back into mangroves, we've never been strict. The policy has allowed for them to live there, but the ecosystem is deteriorating, so we have to solve this problem, yet we have to give them the right to a livelihood as well.

2. Bob Chapek:

   Intent to visit at Walt Disney World is growing and is actually already flat with 2019, which is obviously our last pre-Covid year. So that's really good news for us, as capacity limits increase, we don't think we're going to have any problem at all sort of increasing our attendance to match that capacity. That is not something that keeps any of us up at night.

3. Jason Chaffetz:

   This was supposed to be a one-time recognition of a problem that still hasn’t been fixed and that is that they are dramatically understaffed.

4. Donald Trump:

   Look at those hands, are they small hands ? and, he referred to my hands —' if they're small, something else must be small.' I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee.

5. Bryan Stern:

   More and more trickle up every day, i was a 9/11 first responder in the Army. I was in Afghanistan when Bin Laden was killed, and 20 years later, I’m still dealing with this problem.

Popularity rank by frequency of use