problemnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈprɒb.ləm/us/ˈprɑː.bləm/A1 a situation, person, or thing that needs attention and needs to be dealt with or solved:
financial/health problems
Our main problem is lack of cash.
I'm having problems with my computer.
No one has solved the problem of what to do with radioactive waste.
The very high rate of inflation poses/presents (= is) a serious problem for the government.
Who is going to tackle (= deal with) the problem of poverty in the inner cities?
[ + -ing verb ] Did you have any problems (= difficulties) getting here?
I'd love to come - the only problem is I've got friends staying that night.
a question in mathematics that needs an answer:
We were given ten problems to solve.
problem child, family, etc.
a child, etc. whose behaviour is bad
More examples
- Traffic congestion in large cities seems to be an insoluble problem.
- Her only problem is lack of confidence.
- I've had continual problems with this car ever since I bought it.
- Tiredness, loss of appetite and sleeping problems are all classic symptoms of depression.
- Desperate measures are needed to deal with the growing drug problem.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Difficult things and people
- a (heavy) cross to bear idiom
- a bitter pill (to swallow) idiom
- a hard/tough nut to crack idiom
- albatross
- bane
- chill
- equation
- handicap
- headache
- hiccup
- hot potato
- impediment
- job
- labyrinth
- liability
- the chill wind of sth idiom
- the hard way idiom
- the sharp end
- the/a devil of a sth idiom
- thorn in your flesh/side idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences
Calculations & calculating
Bad and wrong behaviour
Idiom(s)
have a problem with sth/sb
no problem