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.

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

   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. Howard Zinn:

   Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders and millions have been killed because of this obedience. Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves and the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.

2. Liz Tayler:

   The fact that it still took so much time in a military setting shows what a tough time developing countries are going to have in tackling the problem.

3. Filip Bergquist:

   What we are hoping for with this device is to find a treatment for movement disorders where Levodopa, Parkinson's disease where Levodopa is not enough. And in particular in patients with Parkinson's disease where there is problem with gait and balance. But this may not be restricted to Parkinson's disease, so there may be other conditions with poor balance where you could use electrical stimulation of the vestibular organs, the balance organs to improve balance and gait.

4. Khaled Dawoud:

   Is it about the powers or is it about his terms? that's my main suspicion because I can't expect the next parliament will cause any problem whatsoever for the president.

5. Ricardo Paes de Barros:

   The fundamental problem is the government spends most of its education budget paying for people who don't need to be paid for.

Images & Illustrations of problem

Popularity rank by frequency of use