Library / English Dictionary

TROUBLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An effort that is inconvenient

Example:

finished the test only with great difficulty

Synonyms:

difficulty; trouble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("trouble" is a kind of...):

effort; elbow grease; exertion; sweat; travail (use of physical or mental energy; hard work)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trouble"):

the devil (something difficult or awkward to do or deal with)

tsuris ((Yiddish) aggravating trouble)

Derivation:

trouble (take the trouble to do something; concern oneself)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A source of difficulty

Example:

what's the problem?

Synonyms:

problem; trouble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("trouble" is a kind of...):

difficulty (a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trouble"):

pressure point (where problems or difficulties are likely to occur)

can of worms (a source of unpredictable trouble and complexity)

deep water (serious trouble)

growing pains (problems that arise in enlarging an enterprise (especially in the early stages))

hydra (trouble that cannot be overcome by a single effort because of its many aspects or its persistent and pervasive quality)

matter (a problem)

Derivation:

trouble (to cause inconvenience or discomfort to)

troublous (full of trouble)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An event causing distress or pain

Example:

heart trouble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("trouble" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trouble"):

disturbance; interference; noise (electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication)

outrage; scandal (a disgraceful event)

onslaught (a sudden and severe onset of trouble)

blaze; hell (a cause of difficulty and suffering)

embarrassment (some event that causes someone to be embarrassed)

convulsion (a physical disturbance such as an earthquake or upheaval)

affliction (a cause of great suffering and distress)

bad luck; misfortune (unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event)

Derivation:

trouble (cause bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed)

trouble (disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed)

trouble (move deeply)

troublous (full of trouble)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An angry disturbance

Example:

a spot of bother

Synonyms:

bother; fuss; hassle; trouble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("trouble" is a kind of...):

disturbance; perturbation (activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A strong feeling of anxiety

Example:

he wanted to die and end his troubles

Synonyms:

trouble; worry

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("trouble" is a kind of...):

anxiety (a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune)

Derivation:

trouble (disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed)

trouble (move deeply)

Sense 6

Meaning:

An unwanted pregnancy

Example:

he got several girls in trouble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("trouble" is a kind of...):

gestation; maternity; pregnancy (the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed

Synonyms:

ail; pain; trouble

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "trouble" is one way to...):

hurt (give trouble or pain to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trouble"):

break out; erupt; recrudesce (become raw or open)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

trouble (an event causing distress or pain)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

Example:

She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill

Synonyms:

cark; disorder; disquiet; distract; perturb; trouble; unhinge

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "trouble" is one way to...):

disturb; trouble; upset (move deeply)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trouble"):

vex; worry (disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will trouble him

Derivation:

trouble (an event causing distress or pain)

trouble (a strong feeling of anxiety)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move deeply

Example:

A troubling thought

Synonyms:

disturb; trouble; upset

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "trouble" is one way to...):

affect; impress; move; strike (have an emotional or cognitive impact upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trouble"):

agitate; charge; charge up; commove; excite; rouse; turn on (cause to be agitated, excited, or roused)

jolt (disturb (someone's) composure)

cark; disorder; disquiet; distract; perturb; trouble; unhinge (disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed)

distress (cause mental pain to)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will trouble him

Derivation:

trouble (an event causing distress or pain)

trouble (a strong feeling of anxiety)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Take the trouble to do something; concern oneself

Example:

Don't bother, please

Synonyms:

bother; inconvenience oneself; trouble; trouble oneself

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "trouble" is one way to...):

reach; strain; strive (to exert much effort or energy)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

trouble (an effort that is inconvenient)

Sense 5

Meaning:

To cause inconvenience or discomfort to

Example:

Sorry to trouble you, but...

Synonyms:

bother; discommode; disoblige; incommode; inconvenience; put out; trouble

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "trouble" is one way to...):

affect; bear on; bear upon; impact; touch; touch on (have an effect upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "trouble"):

distress; straiten (bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

trouble (a source of difficulty)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Nor was it at all necessary that he should trouble himself with such questions, for if anything were certain under the sun, it was certain that the Memorial never would be finished.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Scale (PDQUALIF) When walking, I have trouble keeping my balance.

(PDQUALIF - Imbalance, NCI Thesaurus)

As symptoms get worse, people with the disease may have trouble walking, talking, or doing simple tasks.

(Parkinson's Disease, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Scale (PDQUALIF) My Parkinson's symptoms cause me to have trouble falling asleep, or waking early.

(PDQUALIF - Trouble with Sleep Initiation or Waking Early, NCI Thesaurus)

Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Scale (PDQUALIF) I have trouble staying asleep.

(PDQUALIF - Trouble with Sleep Maintenance, NCI Thesaurus)

Mr. Kirwin regarded me with a troubled countenance.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

It may also be used to help relieve anxiety and insomnia (trouble sleeping) and to treat certain other disorders.

(Oleptro, NCI Dictionary)

When something goes wrong with a part of your nervous system, you can have trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing, or learning.

(Neurologic Diseases, NIH)

Airway Questionnaire 20 (AQ20) Does your chest trouble make you go home sooner than others after a night out?

(AQ20 - Chest Trouble Make You Go Home Sooner Than Others, NCI Thesaurus)

Airway Questionnaire 20 (AQ20) Does your chest trouble often make you feel restless?

(AQ20 - Chest Trouble Make You Feel Restless, NCI Thesaurus)