ENGLISH
REFERENCE

trouble

n. · v.
US //ˈtɹəbəɫ// UK //tɹˈʌbəl// trou·ble
  1. 1 problems or difficulty (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a situation that is difficult, painful, or dangerous.

    a state of difficulty, distress, or misfortune. Often used uncountably to describe general hardship.

    Example

    The company ran into financial trouble after the new product failed to sell.

    Example

    The humanitarian agency warned that the region was in deep trouble as the drought entered its third consecutive year.
  2. 2 conflict with authority (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a situation where you might be punished by the police, a teacher, or a parent.

    liability to punishment or a state of being in conflict with established authority.

    Example

    He got into big trouble for breaking the window with his football.

    Example

    The teenager found himself in trouble with the law after being caught spray-painting the side of the library.
Show 6 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 extra effort (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the extra work or energy you use to do something for someone.

    effort or pains taken beyond what is strictly necessary, often for the benefit of another.

    Example

    Thank you for going to the trouble of picking me up from the airport.

    Example

    The host went to great trouble to ensure that every guest's dietary requirements were met without making them feel awkward.
  2. 4 medical problems (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    a problem with your health or a part of your body.

    a physical ailment or malfunction of a specific organ or bodily system.

    Example

    My grandfather has been having some heart trouble lately.

    Example

    The patient reported persistent back trouble that radiated down his left leg, suggesting a possible nerve issue.
  3. 5 social unrest (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    fighting or violent behavior between groups of people.

    public disorder, violence, or political unrest within a community or country.

    Example

    There was some trouble in the city center after the football match ended.

    Example

    The government deployed additional security forces to the border regions following reports of civil trouble and protests.
  4. 6 to worry someone (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make someone feel worried, unhappy, or anxious.

    to cause mental distress, anxiety, or perplexity in another person.

    Example

    It troubles me that she hasn't called to say she arrived safely.

    Example

    The ethical implications of the new technology continued to trouble the research team long after the project was completed.
  5. 7 to bother or inconvenience (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Formal

    to ask someone for help or to interrupt what they are doing.

    to cause inconvenience or to disturb someone, often used in polite requests.

    Example

    I'm sorry to trouble you, but could you tell me the time?

    Example

    The secretary hesitated to trouble the CEO with such a minor administrative detail during the board meeting.
  6. 8 to make an effort (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to take the time or energy to do something.

    to exert oneself or take pains to perform an action; often used in the negative to suggest laziness.

    Example

    He didn't even trouble to reply to my invitation.

    Example

    Few critics troubled to look beneath the surface of the film's flashy visuals to find its deeper meaning.
Origin

Verb is from Middle English troublen, trouble, borrowed from Old French troubler, trobler, trubler, metathetic variants of tourbler, torbler, turbler, from Vulgar Latin *turbulō, from Latin turbula (“disorderly group, a little crowd or people”), diminutive of turba (“stir; crowd”). The noun is from Middle English trouble, troble, from Old French troble, from the verb.

Word family
Idioms4 entries

© 2026 English Reference