trouble

plural troubles

1. countableuncountableA distressing or dangerous situation.

   He was in trouble when the rain started.

   Synonyms: ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary, cauldron, cross, cross to bear, difficulty

2. countableuncountableA difficulty, problem, condition, or action contributing to such a situation.

   The trouble was a leaking brake line.

   4 more examples

   The bridge column magnified the trouble with a slight tilt in the wrong direction.

   Lest the fiend […] some new trouble raise.

   1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   Foul whisperings are abroad; unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

   Scientists must realize that dialectical materialism is the only way out of the trouble they have got into through ignorance of Marx and Engels.

   1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume II: The Golden Age, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozwój (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 456

3. countableuncountableA person liable to place others or themselves in such a situation.

   ’Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in So shame on me no-ow

   2021, Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback, “I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor's Version)”, in Red (Taylor's Version), performed by Taylor Swift

   1 more example

   Get me on the court and I'm trouble Last week, messed around and got a triple double

   1992, Ice Cube, “It Was A Good Day”, in The Predator

4. countableuncountableThe state of being troubled, disturbed, or distressed mentally; unease, disquiet.

   Yet oft when sundown skirts the moor ⁠An inner trouble I behold, ⁠A spectral doubt which makes me cold, That I shall be thy mate no more, […]

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XL”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 63

   Synonyms: anguish, torment, anguish, rend, difficulty, distress, grief, hardship

5. countableuncountableObjectionable feature of something or someone; problem, drawback, weakness, failing, or shortcoming.

   Your trouble is that you quit too readily.

   1 more example

   The trouble with that suggestion is that we lack the funds to put it in motion.

   Synonyms: pain in the neck, defect, fault, flaw, blot, imperfection, shortcoming, drawback

6. countableuncountableViolent or turbulent occurrence or event; unrest, disturbance.

   the troubles in Northern Ireland

   1 more example

   “I don’t know how you and the ‘head,’ as you call him, will get on, but I do know that if you call my duds a ‘livery’ again there’ll be trouble. It’s bad enough to go around togged out like a life saver on a drill day, but I can stand that ’cause I'm paid for it. What I won’t stand is to have them togs called a livery. […]”

   1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

   Synonyms: palaver, turmoil, ado, argy-bargy, bangarang, bobbery, brouhaha, bunfight

7. countableuncountableEfforts taken or expended, typically beyond the normal required.

   It’s no trouble for me to edit it.

   2 more examples

   She never took the trouble to close them.

   1850, William Cullen Bryant, Letters of a Traveller

   Indeed, by the report of our elders, this nervous preparation for old age is only trouble thrown away.

   1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque

8. countableuncountableDifficulty in doing something.

   She has trouble eating.

9. countableuncountableHealth problems, ailment, generally of some particular part of the body.

   He’s been in hospital with some heart trouble.

   Synonyms: affliction, malady, affliction, ailment, coath, complaint, disease, disorder

10. countableuncountableA malfunction.

    My old car has engine trouble.

11. countableuncountableLiability to punishment; conflict with authority.

    He had some trouble with the law.

    Synonyms: grief

12. countableuncountablebusinessA fault or interruption in a stratum.
13. CockneycountableslanguncountableWife. Clipping of trouble and strife.

    Synonyms: ball and chain, better half, boss, bride, dutch, 'er indoors, frow, geezer

14. countabledatedslanguncountableAn unplanned, unwanted or undesired pregnancy.

    I never had schoolin’ but he taught me well / With his smooth southern style / Three months later I’m a gal in trouble / And I haven’t seen him for a while.

    1971, Bob Stone, “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves”, performed by Cher

present singular third person troubles · participle present troubling · participle past troubled · past troubled

1. archaictransitiveTo disturb, stir up, agitate (a medium, especially water).

   God looking forth will trouble all his Hoſt

   1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 1100

   1 more example

   For an Angel went downe at a certaine season into the poole, and troubled the water:

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 5:4

   Synonyms: inturbidate, muddle, roil, stir

2. transitiveTo mentally distress; to cause (someone) to be anxious or perplexed.

   What she said about narcissism is troubling me.

   3 more examples

   Now is my soule troubled, and what shall I say? Father, saue me from this houre, but for this cause came I vnto this houre.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 12:27

   Take the Boy to you: he ſo troubles me, / ’Tis paſt enduring.

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 281, column 2

   Never trouble your ſelf about thoſe Faults in them, which you know Age will cure.

   1693, [John Locke], “§65”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC, page 68

   Synonyms: distress, torment, afflict, lacerate, aggrieve, plague, atray, cag

3. transitiveIn weaker sense: to bother or inconvenience.

   I will not trouble you to deliver the letter.

   Synonyms: discommode, hassle, incommode, aggravate, annoy, nettle, rankle, ruffle

4. transitiveusuallyTo physically afflict.

   My bad knee is troubling me.

5. intransitivereflexiveTo take pains (to do something); to bother.

   I won’t trouble to post the letter today; I can do it tomorrow.

   1 more example

   « The hut’s not very tidy, if you don’t mind, » he said. « I cleared it what I could. » / « But I didn’t want you to trouble! » she said.

   1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter X, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC, page 132

   Synonyms: make an effort, take great pains

6. intransitiveTo worry; to be anxious.

   Why trouble about the future? It is wholly uncertain.

   1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.26

   Synonyms: angst, anxietize, cark, fret