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 computer problems

troubleshoot a problem

Examples of troubleshoot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Ukraine, its 30 operators regularly travel between cities to support mission planning, monitor sorties, and troubleshoot in real time to adapt to new threats and feed lessons learned back into the V-BAT. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025

The spacecraft developed stubborn thruster problems and NASA's and Boeing's efforts to troubleshoot them ultimately failed, leaving Wilmore and Williams to wait—and wait and wait—until a Crew Dragon spacecraft with two open seats arrived as part of the station's regular crew rotation. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Dec. 2025

In another bid to troubleshoot, the birds were given another egg to raise in hopes of inducing the process. —Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Dec. 2025

The time lag makes troubleshooting very slow and forces engineers to rely on autonomous systems and redundant hardware. —George Petras, USA Today, 25 Nov. 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