troubleshoot

verb

trou·​ble·​shoot ˈtrə-bəl-ˌshüt 

troubleshot ˈtrə-bəl-ˌshät  ; troubleshooting

intransitive verb

: to operate or serve as a troubleshooter

is troubleshooting for an electronics firm

transitive verb

: to investigate or deal with in the role of troubleshooter

troubleshoots TV receivers

troubleshoot a problem

Examples of troubleshoot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This capability reduces the learning curve for IT staff, powers faster troubleshooting and enables deeper root cause analysis without disrupting the end users. —Elise London, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Odysseus, for instance, left for the moon only about a year prior to Athena, giving Intuitive Machines little time to troubleshoot what went wrong with Odysseus’s landing to prevent similar issues from befalling Athena. —Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025

During the countdown Wednesday, SpaceX engineers were troubleshooting a problem with one of two clamp arms that hold the Falcon 9 rocket to its strongback support gantry. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2025

So, a human doctor, for example, might use their diagnostic reasoning to troubleshoot a faulty fridge, even without formal training. —Bernard Marr, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from troubleshooter

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for troubleshoot

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute

Kids Definition

troubleshoot

verb

trou·​ble·​shoot ˈtrəb-əl-ˌshüt 

troubleshot -ˌshät  ; troubleshooting

1

: to locate trouble and make repairs (as in machinery)

2

: to find a solution to a problem or disagreement