Definitions for problem
ˈprɒb ləmprob·lem

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.

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?"

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

   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. ]

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

   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

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

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. John Kasich:

   Mark my words ... at some point it will require boots on the ground from the world to be able to deal with this problem.

2. Richard Chazal:

   Cost is a problem, there is concern on the part of many clinicians that if patients are reasonably stable and one starts a new medicine then they may become discouraged by the cost and actually stop taking medication.

3. Jimmy Sham:

   Regardless of the identity, ethnicity, skin color of the perpetrators, the root of the problem is the violence of the regime and the political system.

4. Lori Lightfoot:

   We walked into a staggeringly large deficit for next year and what was worse we were not left with any credible plan on how to fix this massive problem.

5. George Sabra:

   Bashar al-Assad and his regime is the root of the terrorism in Syria, i think what is happening in Vienna these days is a carnival of Middle Eastern states, making statements to meet their interests, not to meet the real problem in Syria.

Images & Illustrations of problem

Popularity rank by frequency of use