trouble

noun trou·ble \ ˈtrə-bəl \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Examples: trouble in a Sentence

Definition of trouble

1 : the quality or state of being troubled especially mentally

2 : public unrest or disturbance

there's trouble brewing downtown

3 : an instance of trouble

used to disguise her frustrations and despair by making light of her troubles
—Current Biography

4 : a state or condition of distress, annoyance, or difficulty

in trouble with the law

heading for trouble

got into financial trouble

: such as

a : a condition of physical distress or ill health : ailment

back trouble

heart trouble

b : a condition of mechanical malfunction

engine trouble

c : a condition of doing something badly or only with great difficulty

has trouble reading

has trouble breathing

d : pregnancy out of wedlock

got a girl in trouble

5 : an effort made : pains

took the trouble to do it right

6 a : a cause of distress, annoyance, or inconvenience

don't mean to be any trouble

what's the trouble?

b : a negative feature : drawback

the trouble with you is you're too honest

the main trouble with electronic systems is the overreliance on them
—John Perham

c : the unhappy or sad fact

the trouble is, I need the money

See trouble defined for English-language learners

Examples of trouble in a Sentence

The new system is giving me trouble.
He was having trouble with his homework.
I had a little trouble finding the place.
He had no trouble finding a new job.
gangs looking to make trouble
When the new CEO arrived, the company was in trouble.
She got into trouble with her credit cards.
He's always getting in trouble at school.
She has been having trouble with her knee.

Recent Examples of trouble from the Web

One story begins with a man who is content and free of troubles, says Kirakosyan in Armenian as Abrahamian translates.

— allison keyes, Smithsonian, "Illuminating the Shadowy Art of Armenian Puppet Theater," 13 July 2018
But then Petronzio ran into serious trouble in the South’s deep bunkers, suffering double bogeys from the sand at 11 and 13.

— tod leonard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Aussie grinds out Junior World win; Taiwan girl cruises," 13 July 2018
As people injected themselves, staffers would watch for trouble signs and jump in with overdose-reversing drugs if needed.

— Washington Post, "‘It keeps us safe’: An NYC bathroom set up to stem overdoses," 13 July 2018
The Rocket Mortgage directly replaces the Quicken Loans National, Tiger’s tournament that had trouble drawing players and, as a result, sponsors.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "FORE Questions: Breaking Down the New PGA Tour Schedule," 12 July 2018
Of course, a place that takes this much trouble over first and second courses is going to shine with desserts.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "David Cordish's new restaurant a good bet 24/7 at Live Hotel," 12 July 2018
Factoring in the outdoors, something as subtle as falling leaves can result in a false alert; a big truck rumbling down the road might also set off a notification of potential trouble when there’s really none.

— diane cowen, San Antonio Express-News, "Home security is more affordable — and better —than ever," 12 July 2018
Limiting its role in projects such as the Galileo geolocation system, at a time when America is wavering on its NATO commitments and Russia is stirring up trouble, endangers all Europeans.

— The Economist, "A new Brexit plan creates fresh depths of chaos," 12 July 2018
Perkins guided Rodriguez through troubles in high school.

— CBS News, "Police officer becomes unlikely father figure for young man," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trouble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of trouble

13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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trouble Synonyms

trouble

verb

Definition of trouble

troubled; troubling play \ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

1 a : to agitate mentally or spiritually : worry, disturb

b : to put to exertion or inconvenience

I'm sorry to trouble you

c (1) : to produce physical disorder in : afflict

troubled by a cold

(2) archaic : mistreat, oppress

2 : to put into confused motion

the wind troubled the sea

intransitive verb

1 : to become mentally agitated : worry

refused to trouble over trifles

2 : to make an effort : be at pains

did not trouble to come

—

troubler

play \ˈtrə-b(ə-)lər\ noun

See trouble defined for English-language learners

See trouble defined for kids

Examples of trouble in a Sentence

The accusations troubled him deeply.
I'm troubled by his strange behavior.
I don't mean to trouble you, but I have a question.

Recent Examples of trouble from the Web

However there is positive news about Scotland international James Morrison, who was troubled last season with an Achilles injury.

— SI.com, "West Brom Star Faces 'Internal Disciplinary Proceedings' After Training Camp No-Show," 10 July 2018
The rest is exported to markets, including in China, where competitors aren’t troubled by the U.S. tariffs.

— theo francis, WSJ, "Caught in Trump’s Trade Fight: GE Factories in Wisconsin, South Carolina," 24 June 2018
His apparent suicide, however, indicates he was seriously troubled, his mother said.

— gary warth, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Parents want answers following son's death after jail release," 10 June 2018
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr and the top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Mark Warner, said in a joint statement that they were troubled by the charges.

— eric tucker, baltimoresun.com, "Ex-Senate aide from Ellicott City charged with lying about reporter contacts, in court in Baltimore Friday," 8 June 2018
McCain, a veteran Arizona Republican who has brain cancer, was troubled by Haspel's refusal to say that torture is immoral during a Senate hearing.

— ronald j. hansen, azcentral, "Kelly Sadler, White House aide who joked about John McCain 'dying,' has quit her post," 5 June 2018
Dust said the board selected Lance from among three finalists — two of whom were from out of state — and was not troubled by her lack of superintendent experience.

— zak koeske, Daily Southtown, "TF District 215 taps out-of-state candidate to succeed outgoing superintendent," 26 Apr. 2018
Representative Leonard Lance, a Republican from New Jersey, said he was troubled by the allegations of overspending and singled out the phone booth acquisition.

— Bloomberg.com, "Pruitt’s Capitol Hill Defense: Don’t Blame Me," 26 Apr. 2018
The judge in the Milo and Gabby case did write in his opinion that he was troubled by the decision.

— alana semuels, The Atlantic, "Amazon May Have a Counterfeit Problem," 20 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of trouble

Middle English, from Anglo-French trubler, from Vulgar Latin *turbulare, from *turbulus agitated, alteration of Latin turbulentus — more at turbulent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

trouble Synonyms

Synonyms

discommode, disoblige, disturb, incommode, inconvenience, put out;

Antonyms

accommodate, favor, oblige;

Near Antonyms

abet, aid, assist, help;

ease, facilitate, smooth;

appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate;

delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy;

comfort, console, content;

Related Words

burden, encumber, saddle, weigh;

fetter, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel;

aggravate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, get, irk, nettle, peeve, pique, rile, vex;

grate, inflame (also enflame), provoke;

agitate, perturb, upset;

TROUBLE Defined for English Language Learners

trouble

verb

Definition of trouble for English Language Learners

: to make (someone) feel worried or upset
: to disturb or bother (someone)
: to cause (someone) to feel pain

trouble

noun

Definition of trouble for English Language Learners

: problems or difficulties
: a situation that is difficult or has a lot of problems
: a situation that occurs if you do something wrong or break a rule and which will make someone angry or cause you to be punished