Problem Meaning
/ˈpɹɒbləm/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with.
nounA difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with., An addiction, other substance use disorder, or comparable psychological challenge.
Sentence Examples
Then there is a problem...
There's a problem there that you don't see.
There are three essentially different ways of tackling the problem.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The math equation was so hard that it became a serious ____ for the students.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The engineer identified the root ____ in the system and proposed a solution within hours.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English probleme, from Middle French probleme, from Latin problēma, from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma, “anything thrown forward, hindrance, obstacle, anything projecting, a headland, promontory”), from προβάλλω (probállō, “to throw or lay something in front of someone, to put forward”), from προ- (pro-, “in front of”) + βάλλω (bállō, “to throw, to cast, to hurl”). Doublet of problema.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”"
— 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"The perfume industry is facing a major problem: maintaining constant levels of quality is crucial, but it is increasingly difficult to obtain a regular supply of all the necessary natural ingredients."
— 2014 March 7, Nicole Vulser, “Perfume manufacturers must cope with the scarcity of precious supplies”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 190, number 13, page 30:
"It is more problem to my family than to me."
— 2010, A. M. Aleksander, The Pride of the King:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The math equation was so hard that it became a serious ____ for the students.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The engineer identified the root ____ in the system and proposed a solution within hours.